RismadarVoice Reporters
November 12, 2026
The Bayelsa State Government has entered into a partnership with United States-based energy company Fulcrum LNG Incorporated to develop a gas gathering and processing facility aimed at reducing gas flaring and improving electricity supply to industries.
The agreement followed discussions between Governor Douye Diri and representatives of the company at the inaugural US-Nigeria Governors Government-to-Business Forum on Energy, Mining and Infrastructure in Sugar Land, Texas.
According to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the proposed project will be implemented in phases, beginning with the collection and commercialisation of gas currently being flared.
The recovered gas is expected to support Bayelsa’s Independent Power Plant and emerging industrial clusters.
A second phase would focus on broader gas development and commercialisation opportunities across the state.
Fulcrum LNG Chief Executive Officer, Jesus Bronchalo, said the company would first conduct a field assessment to determine the locations of gas flare sites, the volume of recoverable gas and the infrastructure required.
He explained that the study would establish whether existing flaring resulted from inadequate gas transportation facilities or insufficient reinjection capacity.
Bronchalo acknowledged that some remote flare sites might not be commercially viable for gas recovery.
He said Fulcrum LNG intended to finance the project, while the Bayelsa State Government could acquire an equity stake through a capital contribution.
However, the company has not announced a definitive investment amount, as the project’s financial requirements will depend on the outcome of feasibility studies.
Bronchalo indicated that the company would target commissioning within 12 months after reaching a final investment decision.
Governor Diri welcomed the partnership, describing it as an opportunity to address environmental pollution while supporting industrial development and economic growth.
He emphasised the need to convert the state’s natural gas resources into productive investments that could benefit residents and businesses.
At the forum, Diri said Bayelsa possessed an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of Nigeria’s proven gas reserves and supplied a substantial portion of the gas used by Nigeria LNG Limited.
He also highlighted the state’s Atlantic coastline and proposed Agge Deep Seaport as potential investment opportunities.
The forum brought together representatives of several Nigerian states and American companies operating in energy, mining and infrastructure.
The proposed Bayelsa gas project remains at the preliminary assessment stage, with construction, investment commitments and implementation timelines subject to further technical and commercial decisions.
