How Nigeria, Poland Can Harness Opportunities in Energy Sector 

Emmanuel Addeh who was recently in Poland as part of a group of Nigerian journalists on a study tour of the Central European country, writes that there are huge opportunities for both countries to explore, especially in the energy sector.

Organised by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), headquartered in that nation’s capital, the tour afforded the select journalists a firsthand window to dig deeper into how Poland became an energy powerhouse on the continent.

When Nigeria’s delegation touched down in Warsaw during a recent study tour, the contrast between both countries’ energy landscapes was immediately visible. Poland has spent the past decade racing to diversify, modernise and secure its energy system. Nigeria, by contrast, sits atop some of the largest hydrocarbon reserves in Africa, yet continues to struggle with weak electricity supply, underperforming gas infrastructure and persistent flaring. The gulf between resources and outcomes in the West African nation remains a puzzle.

However, this difference, instead of being an obstacle, now presents an unusual opportunity. As European energy systems scramble for stability and African countries seek technical partnerships for industrialisation, the relationship between Poland and Nigeria can be potentially transformative if properly explored.

The conversation, therefore, should centre on what Nigeria can learn from Poland’s rapid energy evolution, and where the two countries’ strengths naturally complement each other.

This is because over the past two decades, the Poles have built a mix of infrastructure and policy reforms that fundamentally changed their energy security outlook, opening a new maritime pathway for gas imports and reducing its vulnerability to supply shocks. 

All Energy Sources Fully Harnessed

Poland does not rely on a single energy source. If anything, it has long gone past that stage. From onshore and offshore wind farms, to coal mining fields, from biomass development to solar power, from gas to hydropower, Poland is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure energy security for its people.

Although Poland did not begin with Nigeria’s level of resource abundance, it has methodically built an environment where infrastructure investment can succeed, where projects are not merely constructed, but de-risked through coordinated policy, institutional stability and transparent planning.

Conversely, though Nigeria has the resources, including natural gas reserves, liquids-rich fields and a domestic market desperate for reliable electricity, the bottlenecks lie in the middle, including processing plants that never reach full capacity, pipelines that cannot supply power plants consistently, transmission lines that buckle under pressure, and a power market still unable to guarantee revenue for investors.

These weaknesses explain why a nation of over 200 million people can generate less electricity than smaller European countries.

A Natural Partnership 

This is where Nigerian and Polish interests converge most clearly. For Poland, partnerships in Nigeria offer a chance to expand technological and commercial footprints in a high-growth market. For Nigeria, Polish expertise provides a template for reorganising gas and power value chains. The two countries need each other for different reasons, yet both stand to gain enormously if collaboration is pursued strategically.

One promising area is midstream gas development. Poland’s success with its LNG infrastructure did not rely on monumental megaprojects alone. The Poles mastered the art of modularity, building scalable regasification units, storage systems and distribution hubs that could be expanded as demand grew. 

Nigeria, with its scattered demand centres and significant gas flaring, could benefit from adopting similar models. Instead of waiting for expensive nationwide pipelines to be completed, small-scale LNG processing, compressed natural gas corridors and strategically placed gas hubs could supply industrial clusters in the short term. 

Polish engineering firms and financiers already familiar with modular systems could partner with Nigerian operators to execute these quicker and cheaper interventions.

Electricity generation presents another compelling dimension. Nigeria’s gas-to-power strategy has repeatedly stumbled on weak commercial frameworks. Power plants built with great expectation often lie dormant because gas suppliers are not paid on time, distribution companies cannot collect revenue, and transmission constraints prevent generated power from reaching consumers.

Poland’s reform experience shows the value of robust commercial architecture, including payment assurance systems, creditworthy off-takers, enforceable contracts and regulatory independence. By studying how Poland structured long-term capacity contracts and created mechanisms that guaranteed revenue for generators, Nigeria could inject much-needed stability into its own electricity market.

Opportunities in CNG Development 

After removing the subsidy on petrol, the Bola Tinubu administration said that there was a need to find cheaper alternatives. This gave birth to the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI). Built on the idea that the country’s abundant natural gas should serve as a cheaper and cleaner fuel for transport and small-scale industries, the initiative was designed to make CNG widely available, accelerate vehicle conversion, and build an industrial base around gas equipment and servicing.

At its core, PCNGI aims to replace a portion of the petrol-powered fleet with CNG-powered buses, cars and tricycles. The plan includes supplying thousands of conversion kits, supporting private operators to procure CNG buses, and establishing a network of conversion and maintenance workshops across all geopolitical zones. These workshops are expected to serve as centres for training, certification and after-sales support, helping to create local technical capacity.

To this end, Nigeria and Poland can build a meaningful partnership in the CNG sector by aligning Nigeria’s gas-expansion ambitions with Poland’s technical expertise, industrial capacity and growing interest in diversified energy sources. A workable relationship would rest on practical areas where both countries naturally complement each other.

One pathway is technical collaboration. Poland has decades of experience operating CNG fleets, refuelling stations and small-scale gas systems, while Nigeria is pushing to convert vehicles, industries and households to gas as part of its autogas and decarbonisation agenda. 

Polish engineering firms can support Nigeria with station design, skid-mounted compressors, metering technologies and modular CNG distribution units suited to Nigeria’s terrain and electricity constraints.

Investment is another area. Nigeria requires financing to roll out nationwide CNG corridors connecting industrial clusters in-between. Polish investment funds and manufacturing companies can enter through joint ventures with Nigerian gas players to build filling stations, conversion centres and virtual pipelines that truck CNG to areas without pipelines. Such partnerships would reduce upfront costs for Nigerian operators while opening a new market for Polish firms.

Nigeria can also tap into Poland’s manufacturing strength. Poland has a developed ecosystem for fabricating gas cylinders, pressure vessels, conversion kits, valves and safety systems. Localising some of this manufacturing in Nigeria through assembly plants or technology licensing would help lower CNG conversion costs, create industrial jobs and deepen Nigeria’s gas equipment supply chain.

Training and standards present another opportunity. Nigeria’s shift to CNG requires technicians who understand conversion, safety protocols, maintenance and station operation. Polish institutions can work with Nigeria’s energy agencies, polytechnics and private operators to deliver specialised training, standardisation support and certification programmes that improve safety and reliability.

There is room as well for cooperation in fleet deployment. Polish public transport operators run extensive CNG bus systems. Their operational knowledge covering fleet management, fuelling logistics and maintenance scheduling can help Nigerian states adopt CNG buses, avoid common pitfalls and optimise performance from day one.

Finally, policy and regulatory exchange would be useful. Poland’s experience integrating CNG into its transport and small-industry sectors can guide Nigeria on tariff design, safety codes, incentives, and the structure of public–private partnerships that make projects bankable.

Indeed, to bring it home, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF)  said last week that it had concluded discussions to make available 500 CNG refuelling stations across Nigeria for the next three years.

Speaking after a meeting in Abuja, Executive Director of the MDGIF, Mr Oluwole Adama, said the discussion centred on the creation of a government-backed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) promoted by MDGIF, Bank of Industry (BOI), Endurance Group and Séquor Investment Partners. This is an area where both nations can collaborate.

Visit to Poland’s Energy, Manufacturing Firms

The journey to Poland also afforded the delegation from Nigeria the opportunity to visit some energy firms and other manufacturing concerns, mostly located in Lodz, the fourth largest city in Poland and formerly a textile producing area, with several architectural masterpieces.

The KME Plant

Best known as a specialist manufacturer of systems and components used in automotive gas technologies, particularly LPG and CNG, KME is based in Łódź. The company develops electronic control units, injectors, reducers, pressure regulators and diagnostic tools that allow vehicles to run efficiently on gas. Over the years, it has built a reputation for engineering reliability, combining in-house research with mass production of kits used by conversion workshops in Europe and other markets.

The company also operates training and technical support programmes, helping mechanics and installers understand the design, calibration and maintenance of gas systems. This combination of manufacturing, product development and field training has positioned KME as a significant player in the gas-mobility space, especially in regions where the shift from petrol to gas has been driven by cost and environmental considerations.

The capacity of the industrial firm underpins Poland’s strength in the gas-conversion ecosystem. It provides the hardware, the electronics and the know-how that allow CNG or LPG vehicles to operate safely and efficiently, making it a useful reference point for countries exploring a similar transition.

Key drivers of the organisation, including its Director of Research and Development (R&D), Robert Szmajda as well as its Foreign Trade Specialist, Lukasz Kubiak, maintain that they are willing to work with Nigeria to develop its CNG subsector.

During the visit, the management of the company maintained that with its partnership, investing in the modern LPG/CNG system from KME will pay off in a short time for Nigeria 

“The African market, including Nigeria’s, has enormous potential for gas-powered technology. Our new controller is the answer to these needs. It offers advanced technology from Europe that allows for safe and economical conversion of even the newest cars. We believe this solution is a perfect fit for the needs of Nigeria’s dynamically developing automotive market,” said Kubiak.

UNIMOT 

An independent multi-energy firm, the UNIMOT Group has been in operation for over 30 years. It’s involved in the importation of liquid and gas fuels, including: Diesel oil, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), natural gas, bio-fuels, electricity, bitumen products, as well as aviation and marine fuels.

One of the largest independent fuel importers in Poland, the company is also developing the photovoltaic segment, that is, under the AVIA solar brand, and invests in other renewables. Besides, they own and operate fuel storage terminals and have rail logistics and freight capabilities. 

Headquartered in Poland, UNIMOT is publicly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and trades in solid fuels like coal (with some ambitions toward biomass). It also operates a network of petrol (gas) stations under the AVIA brand (master franchise). 

In its 2024–2028 strategy, UNIMOT aims to: Strengthen its core business (fuels, trading, logistics); expand into more low-carbon and “transition” energy products (gas, electricity, renewables) and invest heavily in energy transformation, including PV, to reduce emissions and make their operations more sustainable. It therefore makes sense for Nigerian businesses to seek out opportunities in this respect.

Kleszczów Commune

At the Kleszczów Commune,  a rural municipality in central Poland, located in Bełchatów County in the Łódź region, the management of the area enunciated several opportunities available for Nigerian businesses.

Kleszczów, a wealthy county, has close proximity with two major assets: the Bełchatów lignite mine and the massive Bełchatów coal-fired power plant. These facilities generate very high revenues for the local government through property taxes and mining-related fees.

As a result, the commune has been able to invest heavily in infrastructure, industrial zones, public services and local social programmes and is able to provide better amenities than many parts of the country.

According to the President of the Kleszczów Commune Development Foundation, Piotr Kołba, a number of regions in Poland still depend heavily on the coal industry, stressing that it won’t be out of place to expand to Nigeria.

At a viewing point in Żłobnica, journalists were shown the plant, especially the Bełchatów open-pit mine. They also visited the Ekobenz Company, where the managers talked about how fuels can be produced from ethanol (alcohol) and sewage waste.

This is an area where the two countries can also work together. Indeed, Nigeria holds a lot of potential in coal than its current energy mix suggests. The country’s known deposits stretch across more than a dozen states, concentrated in the old coal belt of Enugu, Kogi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau.

Geological surveys estimate that Nigeria has hundreds of millions of tonnes in proven reserves, with much larger quantities inferred, making it one of Africa’s more significant coal-bearing nations. 

The resource is varied as well: aside from the bituminous coal found in Enugu and Kogi, there are sub-bituminous deposits and lignite seams that could, in principle, support a range of industrial uses. But for many decades, this potential has remained largely dormant.

Sunreef Yachts 

A distinctive Polish shipyard known for building high-end catamarans and multi-hull superyachts, Sunreef Yachts, combines luxury, innovation, and sustainability and has  some of Africa’s richest people as clients.

It began in Gdańsk, Poland, in 2002, when its founder, Francis Lapp, saw an opportunity to marry his love of sailing with Poland’s skilled shipbuilding tradition.  Lapp, originally an engineer in the power-business, fell in love with catamarans during his sailing adventures and realized there was a gap in the market: luxury multihulls designed not just for performance, but for very comfortable living. 

From that vision came the first major milestone. In 2003, Sunreef launched the Sunreef 74 CHE, the first oceangoing flybridge catamaran that redefined what a multi-hull yacht could be. 

The shipyard today operates out of modern facilities in Gdańsk with deep roots in the old shipyard infrastructure.  Their production site includes advanced workshops for composites, upholstery, electronics, and more, enabling them to build very custom, large yachts. 

Besides, there’s a floating crane capable of lifting very large builds, and a climate-controlled storage area to protect materials during construction.  At its core, Sunreef is extremely focused on bespoke luxury. 

They don’t just churn out standard models; each yacht is carefully designed with its owner, combining naval architecture, interior design, and a high degree of personalisation.  Their portfolio includes both sailing catamarans and power catamarans, in sizes ranging from more modest (50–60 feet) to very large (well over 100 feet). 

PAIH Reps Speak 

Małgorzata Kucharek, Key Specialist from the Machinery and Railway Sectors at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), facilitators of the tour, noted that the event was meant to promote business opportunities that both Nigeria and Poland can offer.

According to her, the mission was organised by the machinery sector of PAIH  to showcase areas of development, including in factories, wherein such partnerships can take place.

She said: “We know that Nigeria is one of the biggest producers of fuels, especially gas. So. For us it’s a very important market that we could explore with our companies. Our mission is to support Polish companies to develop and export their products and services abroad.”

Kucharek explained that Poland was interested in building collaborations, knowing the business culture, as well as knowing the expectations of Nigeria from Poland.

Also speaking, Supervisor of the Lagos Office of PAIH Foreign Trade Office located in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, Krzyszof Stasko, stated that having lived in Nigeria for over 20 years, there were similarities between both nations.

“ Twenty years ago, we were having challenges with infrastructure and maybe unemployment and skills (gap) and the young population was looking for good jobs, good pay and developing the country. Though not everything in life is business, but even if it is, the idea of business is for the two parties to benefit from it. And it’s not only about selling devices, but also training and the know-how.

“Poland is comparable to the other countries because, again, we recently passed through the same challenges as Nigeria. We were not the richest in the region, but now we have the second (biggest) economy in Europe, even with our challenges in electricity supply 20 years ago, limited gas for the power sector and all that. So, Nigeria can learn a lot from our experience.

“They can invite these companies to share their know-how, to invest, but also through training centres, investment through bringing the knowledge and engaging the young people and connecting the academia. Everything starts from knowledge and awareness. So, we are very happy that our colleagues have a chance to see it because seeing is believing,” he stressed.

He explained that Nigeria has a lot of gas as well as alternative fuels like coal, citing the quality of coal in Enugu and Kogi, for instance.

“Gas is wasted in Nigeria. So much money is going into the air.  Nigeria needs to finish its regasification project, including, Train 7 and Train 8 projects to be able to export surplus gas,” he added.

Some of the facilities visited during the tour