Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) purchased two vessels owned by Duke Energy to transport gas from the Bonny LNG plant. The company said it had long-term chartered the ships in 1995 for 22.5 years with provisions for an extension or outright purchase within the period 2001 and 2006. The company is exercising the right to buy the vessels outright one year ahead of schedule. The $3.8 billion Bonny plant in southeast Nigeria began LNG production in October.