Nigeria has achieved a major industrial milestone with the launch of its first-ever methanol and ammonium bicarbonate production plant in Ondo State — a development expected to significantly boost local fertilizer manufacturing and reduce import dependence.
The state-of-the-art facility, owned by SuperTech Chemical Industry Limited, is located within the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub in Omotosho, Okitipupa Local Government Area. It was inspected by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who described it as a key step in the federal government’s plan to harness natural gas for national development.
Ekpo said the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at promoting gas-based industrialisation, job creation, and agricultural sustainability. “This plant will not only produce methanol and ammonium bicarbonate locally but will also drive self-sufficiency in fertilizer production and support our farmers,” he said.
According to company officials, the facility has an annual production capacity of 100,000 metric tons of methanol and 160,000 metric tons of ammonium bicarbonate. It was fully relocated from China to Nigeria — a move hailed as a sign of investor confidence and a step toward technological transfer.
Dr. Alexander Ajipe, Principal Consultant to the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, noted that the plant’s operation would strengthen local agriculture by ensuring the steady availability of fertilizer and industrial chemicals. “With this facility, Nigeria is producing what it used to import. It’s a new dawn for industrial growth,” he said.
SuperTech Chairman Yang Jijiang described the project as a testament to Nigeria–China cooperation, adding that plans are underway to expand production to 500,000 metric tons by 2026.
Experts believe the plant will not only improve fertilizer supply but also create thousands of jobs, boost foreign exchange savings, and position Ondo as a new hub for chemical and energy-linked industries in West Africa.
