Nigeria’s $1.108 Billion Ima Gas Project: Which Local Contractors Get the Work?

Nigeria’s offshore Ima Gas Project has reached Final Investment Decision, with an estimated development cost of US$1.108 billion. TotalEnergies and AMNI plan to produce 350 million standard cubic feet of gas daily and deliver it to Nigeria LNG through a 22-kilometre pipeline. First gas is targeted for October 2028.

Who owns it? TotalEnergies EP Nigeria operates the project with a 40% interest, while AMNI holds 60%. Located across offshore licences OML 112 and OML 117 near Bonny Island, the development targets approximately 1.28 trillion cubic feet of gross gas reserves.

Now follow the money. The project requires offshore engineering, platform construction, pipeline installation, equipment, electrical systems, testing and maintenance. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says all four main project packages will be handled by Nigerian contractors. Seven Nigerian financial institutions, including Zenith Bank and UBA, are reportedly providing about 77% of the financing.

That creates potential opportunities for local fabricators, engineering firms, equipment suppliers, logistics operators, inspection companies and specialist subcontractors. However, the announcement does not identify every contractor, disclose package values or guarantee work for every Nigerian supplier.

The gas is intended to support Nigeria LNG’s Train 7 expansion, which aims to raise liquefaction capacity from 22 million to 30 million tonnes annually. This connects offshore production to gas processing and export earnings.

The project also requires power-from-shore systems, methane monitoring and environmental controls, creating potential demand for specialised electrical, instrumentation and monitoring equipment.

The figures need context. AMNI reports an estimated development cost of US$1.108 billion, while NUPRC separately described investment of more than US$600 million. Public statements do not fully reconcile these figures, so they should not be treated as equivalent.

What should businesses watch? The four procurement packages, named awardees, subcontracting opportunities, local-content requirements and construction milestones. Suppliers need proven offshore capability, safety compliance, technical credentials and financial capacity.

The next test is execution: whether Nigerian contractors secure meaningful work, construction stays on schedule and first gas arrives by October 2028.

The headline is US$1.108 billion. The opportunity lies in the contracts, equipment orders, financing and technical capacity that turn offshore gas into production and export revenue.