- Royal Castle Ceramic installed a 14.8MW gas-fired power plant to cut energy costs, improve reliability, and reduce emissions.
- The company reported improved efficiency, cost savings, and market expansion, crediting local sourcing, long-term gas contracts, and innovation.
Royal Castle Ceramic Company Limited has installed a 14.8-megawatt gas-fired power plant, marking a significant shift toward energy independence and improved industrial productivity.
Managing Director and CEO Qian Jin said the new facility, developed in partnership with Clarke Energy using INNIO Jenbacher gas engine technology, now powers the company’s operations and delivers stable and cost-efficient electricity.
“Power supply has been a major issue. We’ve faced frequent outages from the national grid, which disrupt production schedules and increase costs,” Jin said in a statement on Tuesday, August 5. “Unlike the unreliable grid and high diesel prices, gas power provides a consistent and more economical solution.”
Furthermore, the company reported that switching to gas has led to lower energy costs, reduced downtime, and higher production efficiency. As a cleaner-burning fuel, natural gas has also helped Royal Castle reduce emissions and align with environmental standards.
Clarke Energy’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Yiannis Tsantilas, said the project reflects a growing trend among Nigerian manufacturers to adopt more sustainable and reliable power sources. “This shift positions the sector for long-term productivity and growth,” he said.
Since commissioning the plant, Royal Castle has reinvested energy cost savings into expanding production, improving pricing, and exploring new markets across Africa. In addition, the company sources raw materials like clay and silica locally and has secured long-term gas supply contracts with Nigerian producers, ensuring stable operations.
Despite its energy breakthrough, Royal Castle continues to navigate structural challenges such as poor transport infrastructure, complex regulations, and stiff competition. Still, Jin remains confident in Nigeria’s market.
“Nigeria offers a large and growing market for ceramic products, driven by urbanisation and infrastructure development,” he said. “We didn’t wait for the grid; we built our future, and that decision is powering our growth today.”
Royal Castle joins a growing list of industrial players abandoning the national grid in favour of private generation, signalling a more profound shift in Nigeria’s manufacturing energy strategy.