The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has completed construction of the OB3 pipeline crossing beneath the River Niger, removing a major bottleneck that has constrained the country's gas supply for years.
The project unlocks an additional 2 billion standard cubic feet per day of gas capacity, a significant boost to a nation struggling with power generation and industrial productivity. NNPC said the completed crossing will flow gas from the Niger Delta through existing infrastructure to power plants, refineries, and manufacturing plants across Nigeria.
Gas supply has been a critical problem for Nigeria's electricity sector. Power generation plants frequently run below capacity because they cannot access enough fuel, forcing the country to import electricity at great cost. The OB3 crossing removes one of the physical obstacles preventing gas producers from moving their output to where it is needed.
The project involved laying pipeline underwater across the Niger River, a technically demanding operation in one of West Africa's largest waterways. NNPC completed the work without causing disruption to river traffic or surrounding communities, according to the company.
Nigeria produces more than 200 billion cubic feet of gas daily but much of it is either flared at oil fields or exported as liquefied natural gas. Domestic access to gas remains tight because infrastructure constraints limit how much can reach the local market. The OB3 crossing addresses one piece of that puzzle.
Energy officials expect the additional capacity to improve power supply stability, reduce generation costs for electricity producers, and make Nigeria more attractive to manufacturers who depend on reliable gas for their operations. Industries from cement to chemicals to food processing have cited gas shortages as a major cost driver.
The completion comes as Nigeria works to increase domestic gas utilisation under its gas masterplan, a long-term strategy to grow the sector and reduce flaring. NNPC and other producers have committed billions of naira to new pipeline projects, processing facilities, and export infrastructure over the next decade.
NNPC did not announce a formal commissioning date. The company said it will conduct final safety and pressure tests before placing the pipeline into full operation.
