Nigeria’s crude oil output is expected to rise significantly in the coming months as a new offshore production facility prepares to sail into Nigerian waters, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Gbenga Komolafe, the Commission’s Chief Executive, disclosed this after inspecting the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel at Dubai’s Drydocks World shipyard in the United Arab Emirates. The unit — originally a one-million-barrel capacity crude tanker known as Nordic Mistral — is currently in its final conversion phase and is being prepared for deployment to the Okwok Field operated by Oriental Okwok Limited.
Komolafe said the arrival of the FPSO aligns with Nigeria’s broader objective to boost national oil output and achieve the government’s “Project One Million Barrels,” which aims to raise production by one million barrels per day. He stressed that the facility would add meaningful volumes to Nigeria’s offshore output portfolio.
During a four-hour technical assessment, the NUPRC boss inspected modules for gas injection, oil processing, water treatment, power generation, control systems, and accommodation infrastructure. Regulators also reviewed compliance, engineering quality and safety standards before approving readiness for sail-away.
The EMEM FPSO is equipped to process up to 40,000 barrels of oil per day and 70,000 barrels of liquids per day, with water treatment capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and gas handling systems designed to support production and injection activities. The facility is expected to operate offshore Nigeria for at least 15 years.
Nigeria — which has struggled in recent years with production declines, pipeline vandalism, and underinvestment — is trying to raise output to meet OPEC+ quotas and reassure investors. Komolafe urged Oriental Energy to participate in the country’s next upstream licensing round, saying the firm had demonstrated the capability needed to expand further.
Oriental Energy’s Executive Vice Chairman, Goni Sheikh, thanked the regulator for its support, saying sustained collaboration was key in driving large capital projects in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Industry analysts note that the deployment of the EMEM FPSO signals renewed momentum in Nigeria’s upstream industry, especially as Abuja steps up efforts to restore confidence, attract fresh investments and reverse years of production slippage.
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Source:Africa Publicity
