LAGOS -- Africa's largest oil producer Nigeria on Tuesday exported its milestone 3,000th liquefied natural gas cargo since it began operations in 1999, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) said.
The cargo was exported from NLNG's Bonny Island terminal in southern Rivers state to Marmara LNG Terminal in Turkey for Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, a statement said.
The company said its shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has reduced gas flaring in the oil-rich region, a sore point in the operation of oil firms often criticized by residents and rights organizations.
NLNG hopes to increase its production capacity from 22 million metric tons to 30 million per annum, as Nigeria seeks to hit a target of providing the world with 10% of its LNG requirements.
Nigeria is currently the world's seventh-largest oil producer but is still reliant on imports of petroleum products because of poorly maintained domestic refineries, crumbling infrastructure and graft.
NLNG, which exported its first gas cargo to France in October 1999, said its production was fuelling economic growth in Africa's most populous nation.
It was also reducing dangerous flaring that can cause environmental damage and harmful health effects on people living nearby.
The Nigerian government has a majority 49% stake in NLNG. Shell Gas, Total LNG Nigeria Limited and Eni International are the other shareholders.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014
