Some victories arrive quietly. Others, as in Lagos last week, announce a shift in the wind. Mustapha Fasinro’s Linetrale joined global titans Gunvor and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in winning coveted liquefied natural gas cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.
For a Nigerian-owned firm, the achievement was rare. Linetrale, founded almost two decades ago, had dabbled in LNG only twice before, in 2020 and 2023. Its mainstay had been liquefied petroleum gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. The latest deal signals its boldest stride into an arena dominated by multinational heavyweights.
Breaking into LNG trading is notoriously hard. The gas must be chilled to minus 162 degrees Celsius, shipped in specialised vessels, and financed with deep pockets. The barriers usually keep smaller firms outside the gates. Yet Fasinro’s team manoeuvred through, proving that a Lagos-based company can claim a seat at the high-stakes table.
The timing is uncanny. Global demand for LNG is rising, as Europe and Asia scramble to diversify supply lines. Nigeria itself is pushing a “Decade of Gas” agenda, banking on its vast reserves and the Bonny Island export hub. Linetrale’s breakthrough aligns perfectly with both global hunger and national ambition.
Fasinro has rarely sought the spotlight. A chemical engineering graduate from London South Bank University, he built his career from oil fields in Port Harcourt to boardrooms in Lagos. Over the years, Linetrale expanded its trade across West Africa, methodically stitching a reputation for reliability. The LNG cargoes now crown that quiet expansion. Industry analysts believe the win will lift Linetrale’s profile with international partners, testing its ability to master long-distance deliveries. For Nigerians weary of watching homegrown firms edged out by foreign giants, the symbolism is powerful. In a market of steel hulls and frozen gas, belief itself may be the rarest cargo.
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