A sixth unit has been inaugurated at Nigeria's biggest natural gas export plant.

It is expected that the unit will increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), situated on Bonny Island in the Niger Delta, by a fifth to a total of 22-million tonnes.

NLNG is currently talking to bidders regarding the building of a seventh unit which will boost production capacity to a further 30-million tonnes.

LNG is natural gas converted to a liquid form by cooling it to a very low temperature. It can be used for electricity generation or for producing chemicals.

President Umaru Yar'Adua has recently called on stakeholders to direct more LNG into the domestic market in order to stimulate development.