By Maryjane Austine
Ogidigben Gas Park Tops China’s BRI Construction Deals in 2025
Nigeria has emerged as the world’s largest destination for construction contracts under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2025, driven largely by the Ogidigben Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP) in Delta State.
A new report by Christoph Nedopil, a China energy specialist at Griffith University, shows that the Ogidigben project accounts for the bulk of Nigeria’s $24.6 billion worth of BRI construction contracts secured this year. This represents a sharp rise from the $1.8 billion recorded in 2024, placing Nigeria ahead of all other countries in total contract value.
The report attributes the surge to a major contract of about $20 billion awarded to China National Chemical Engineering for the development of the gas-based industrial park. Globally, BRI construction contracts rose to $128.4 billion in 2025, while total engagement across all sectors reached about $213.5 billion from roughly 350 deals.
Energy projects remained central to China’s overseas engagements, with global energy-related deals valued at $93.9 billion. Fossil fuel projects dominated, although investments in green energy also reached record levels. Nigeria’s cumulative energy engagement with China since 2013 is now estimated at $28 billion, ranking it behind only Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The findings underline Nigeria’s growing strategic importance in China’s long-term energy and infrastructure plans, particularly across Africa and other developing regions. Across the continent, BRI construction activity climbed to $61.2 billion in 2025, a 283 per cent increase from the previous year.
The report contrasts this expansion with a broader global slowdown in foreign direct investment. Data cited show that global FDI fell by three per cent in the first half of 2025, while greenfield renewable energy investments dropped sharply. Africa’s non-BRI foreign investment declined by 42 per cent, making the scale of Chinese-backed construction activity more pronounced.
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China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation reaffirmed its commitment to the Ogidigben project in January 2025. Its president, Li Zhenyi, said the company was ready to support the development through restructured funding arrangements and partnerships with Nigerian stakeholders, describing the project as part of China’s contribution to Nigeria’s industrial growth.
The renewed momentum follows years of uncertainty surrounding the project. Development was previously slowed by community disputes in the host area, security concerns and the withdrawal of earlier investors. Efforts by the Federal Government in 2022 to restructure oversight and address longstanding challenges are now seen as paving the way for fresh investor confidence.
Covering about 2,700 hectares, the Ogidigben Gas Industrial Park is designed to host gas-based industries such as fertiliser, methanol and petrochemical plants. When fully developed, it is expected to support large-scale industrial activity, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s drive to monetise its gas resources, particularly in the Niger Delta.
