We’re Not Responsible For Soaring Cooking Gas Prices, Says NLNG

The Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) has dissociated itself from the soaring price of cooking gas in the country, blaming it on foreign exchange pressures.   General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, said the company has been making defining contributions to the domestic LPG market, spurring the steady growth of the nation’s DLPG market volume from less than 50,000 metric tonnes of imported LPG in 2007 to over 1.3 million metric tons of both domestic and imported LPG today.  Odeh, said NLNG currently delivers over 450,000 metric tonnes per annum of Butane, the main product in cooking gas and has embarked on domestic propane supply to further grow the market. The Company, he continued, has committed its entire Butane and Propane production to the domestic market from 2023 and despite feed gas challenges, continues to supply LPG to the domestic market, accounting for approximately 40% of the total market volume.  Since the beginning of the year, NLNG has delivered over 380,000 metric tonnes of LPG using the Company’s dedicated LPG vessel. He said the NLNG has remained committed to delivering domestic LPG to locations as close to the market as possible by diversifying delivery points starting with Lagos in 2023, fostering competition among terminal owners and ultimately reducing consumer supply chain costs. Efforts are ongoing to reach terminals in Warri and Calabar as soon as the challenges limiting safe delivery of volumes to these other locations are cleared. “The domestic LPG market, like any other, is subject to dynamic market forces and various external factors. Such factors as changes in exchange rates, and escalating price benchmarks mirroring crude oil prices, and the Panama Canal drought-induced vessel scarcity impacting transport costs especially for imported LPG, have had significant effect on energy prices in the recent times and could undoubtedly be some of the reasons for recent price hikes witnessed in the domestic market. “NLNG maintains an unwavering commitment to ensuring the reliable supply of its LPG production to the domestic market at prices that are reflective of the market. The Company is collaborating with relevant industry stakeholders to achieve this objective and will remain focused on achieving its mission through this avenue among others,” Odeh said.

Nigeria’s Equity Market Declines By N6bn

Transactions on the floor of Nigerian Exchange on Wednesday closed on negative note, shedding N6 billion. Market capitalisation of listed equities declined by 0.02 per cent to N36.923 trillion from N36.929 trillion reported on Tuesday. The NGX All Share Index also depreciated by 11.61 basis points to 67206.16 points from 67217.77 points reported the previous day. A review of the investment showed that Multiverse led gainers table, growing by 9.74 per cent to close at N2.93 per share, Chams Plc followed with a gain of 9.71 per cent to close at N1.92 per unit, Caverton Business Solutions added 9.35 per cent to close at N1.52 per unit, FTNCocoa Plc up by 8.97 per cent to close at N1.70 per unit while Geregu powers increased by 7.71 per cent to close at N370.00. On the contrary, ETranzact and SUNU Assurance recorded the highest loss, shedding 10 per cent each to close at N7.56 and N0.99 per share. Deep Capital trailed at 7.41 per cent to close at N0.25 per share, Eterna Plc dropped by 7.41 per cent to close at N13.75 per unit, United Bank for Africa down by 5.79 per cent to close at N18.75 per share. Volume of trades increased by 9.756 million, representing 3.05 per cent as investors traded 329.660 million shares valued at N4.410 billion in 5998 deals against 319.904 million shares costing N6.330 billion in 6272 deals. Transactions in the shares of Fidelity Bank led market activities with 50.319 million shares valued at N411.728 million, AccesCorp plc followed with 43.186 million shares worth N30.101 million, Chams Plc traded 26.650 million shares cost N50.127 million, United Bank for Africa exchanged 25.848 million shares cost N502.077 million while GTCO Plc exchanged 20.630 million shares cost N733.793 million.

Equity Market Sheds N21bn

Nigeria’s equity market began the week on a bearish note, shedding N21 billion following profit-taking in the shares of Dangote Sugar, GTCO Plc and other stocks. The development impacted on the market forcing the NGX All Share Index to decline by 38.49 basis points to 66876.92 points from 66915.41 points reported the previous day. Market capitalisation of listed equities also declined by 0.06 per cent to N36.742 trillion from N36.763 trillion reported the previous day. An analysis of the investment showed that Thomas Way led gainers table in percentage terms, gaining 9.92 per cent to N3.99 per share, Academy Press followed with a gain of 9.71 per cent to close at N1.92 per unit, Ikeja Hotel added 9.52 per cent to close at N3.45 per unit, Chams Plc increased by 7.38 per cent to close at N1.60 per unit, Tantalizer added 6.90 per cent to close at N0.31 per share. Volume of trades increased by 135.726 million, representing 65.92 per cent as investors traded 314.619 million shares valued at N4.388 billion in 6133 deals against 205.893 million shares costing N6.380 billion in 4986 deals. On the contrary, VFD group recorded the highest loss during the day, shedding 9.99 per cent to close at N242.40 per share, Mcnichols followed with 9.69 per cent to close at N0.56 per share, UPL dipped by 9.32 per cent to close at N2.14 per unit, Chi pls declined by 5.22 per cent to close at N1.09 per unit, Omatek down by 4.44 per cent to close at N0.43 per unit. Transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa led market activities with 47.150 million shares valued at N900.695 million, AccessCorp followed with a gain of 40.348 million shares valued at N666.866 million, FCMB group traded 29.054 million shares cost N173.552 million, GTCO Plc exchanged 27.393 million shares worth N959.246 million while Transcorps sold a total of 16.435 million shares valued at N102.039 million.

Equity Market Rebounds, Gains N140bn

Nigeria’s equity market on Thursday rebounded and gained N140 billion following gains recorded by small and medium stocks in the market. Market capitalisation of listed equities increased by 0.38 per cent to N36.526 trillion from N36.386 trillion reported the previous day. The NGX All Share Index also appreciated by 87.91 basis points to 66570.19 points from 66482.28 points traded on Wednesday. A review of the trading activities showed that Wema Bank led the gainers table in percentage terms, gaining 9.93 per cent to N4.65 per share, Thomas Way followed with a gain of 9.74 per cent to close at N2.14 per share, Regal insurance added 8.82 per cent to close at N0.37 per unit, Daar Communications and Royal Express increased by 8.70 per cent to close respectively to N0.25 per share and N0.50 Kobo per unit. On the contrary, Champion Breweries topped losers’ chart, shedding 9.87 per cent to close at N3.38 per share, Chellaram trailed with a loss of 9.84 per cent to close at N3.48 per unit, ABC Transport fell by 9.72 per cent to close at N0.65 per unit, APDC dropped by 8.57 per cent to close at N1.28 per share, MCNICHOLS dipped by 7.69 per cent to close at N0.60 per unit. Volume of trades increased by 356.485 million, representing a growth 54.22 percent as investors exchanged 1.014 billion shares valued at N4.733 billion in 6959 deals against 657.515 million shares worth N4.597 billion made in 6647 deals the previous day. Transactions in the shares of Neimeth international Pharmaceutical led market activities with 657.094 million shares valued at N985.649 million, Oando Plc followed with account of 75.146 million shares cost N771.243 million, Fidelity Bank traded 35.143 million shares cost N288.091 million, Sterling Bank exchanged 24.430 million shares worth N87.369 million while Ellah Lakes traded 19.018 million shares valued at N76.074 million.