After more than three decades of dormancy, the Nigergas Company Limited in Emene has been brought back to life through a major rehabilitation and upgrade spearheaded by the Enugu State Government.
The gas plant, originally established in 1962 under the leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara, had been abandoned for years due to weak governance and mismanagement. The new administration undertook a full-scale restoration, introducing modern facilities and a management model that combines public ownership with private-sector efficiency.
During the relaunch on Thursday, Governor Peter Mbah said the revived plant has already employed over 100 skilled and semi-skilled workers, with projections to generate more than 5,000 indirect jobs across transport, fabrication, distribution, and supply chains.
He stressed that the project aligns with his broader economic agenda to expand Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion. “This is not merely the reawakening of old pipes and equipment, but the revival of industrial promise and productivity for our people,” Mbah said.
The plant’s new installed capacity includes the production of 100 cubic metres of oxygen per hour and 45 cubic metres of acetylene per hour. It will serve hospitals, manufacturers, welders, and agro-processors, ensuring steady supplies of medical and industrial gases while reducing reliance on costly imports and distant suppliers.
Mbah also announced plans to add nitrogen, argon gas, carbon dioxide, and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations to the production line in the near future.
Stakeholders described the relaunch as a turning point for the state’s industrial sector. Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, head of the Enugu State Investment Authority, said the project had revived the original vision of the Okpara government. Chief Chike Madueke, Managing Director of Ten Gas Development Ltd the engineering firm responsible for the rehabilitation said the facility would also serve as a training hub for young people in the state.
Traditional rulers, community leaders, and business figures, including Nollywood veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo, applauded the administration for revitalizing state-owned assets and strengthening security to support industrial and creative activities.
