By: Sunday Ameh
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the commencement of full operations at the SuperTech Methanol and Ammonium Bicarbonate Plant located in Ondo State, describing it as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s drive toward local chemical and fertilizer production.
The Chinese-owned SuperTech Chemical Industry Limited operates the facility, which is the first indigenous methanol and ammonium bicarbonate plant in the country.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, made this known on Sunday during an inspection visit to the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, Omotosho, Ore, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Ekpo, who toured the facility alongside top officials of the NNPC Ltd and other industry stakeholders, said the project aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies natural gas as a driver of industrialization, innovation, and sustainable job creation.
According to him, the plant has the capacity to produce 100,000 metric tons of methanol and 160,000 metric tons of ammonium bicarbonate annually — marking a major leap for Nigeria’s gas-based industrialization.
“Moving around and seeing the level of investment here is highly encouraging. They are taking advantage of our natural gas resources to produce methanol and ammonium bicarbonate,” Ekpo said.
“Mr. President is pleased that investors are using our gas resources to grow the economy. The Federal Government will provide all necessary support to scale production from the current 100,000 metric tons to 500,000 metric tons by 2026.”
The Minister praised the relocation of the entire production facility from China to Nigeria, which reached full mechanical completion in March 2025, describing it as a testament to the resilience and technical competence of the project promoters.
He said the factory represents a vital addition to Nigeria’s downstream gas value chain, opening new opportunities for industrial inputs crucial to manufacturing and agriculture.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Yang Jijiang, Chairman of SuperTech Chemical Industry, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s industrialization and energy transition agenda.
“Since commissioning, our facility has met daily and monthly production targets, demonstrating reliability and excellence,” he said.
“With strong backing from the Federal and Ondo State Governments, NNPC Ltd, GACN, and NMDPRA, we have turned vision into reality.”
He added that the project would contribute to job creation, technology transfer, and economic cooperation between Nigeria and China.
Also speaking, Dr. Alexander Ajipe, Principal Consultant to the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, commended the Minister’s visit as a morale booster for investors.
“This project is a great milestone for Ondo State and Nigeria. We are now producing fertilizer and methanol locally, reducing our dependence on imports,” Ajipe noted.
The SuperTech Methanol and Ammonium Bicarbonate Plant is expected to play a central role in Nigeria’s quest for energy diversification, gas utilization, and export expansion, positioning Ondo State as an emerging hub for chemical manufacturing in West Africa.
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