The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s crude oil output will soon witness a significant boost following the completion of a new offshore production facility.

Komolafe expressed his excitement in a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, on Thursday, after an official visit to Dubai Drydocks World in the United Arab Emirates, where he inspected the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, which is currently undergoing final conversion works.

The visit formed part of the Commission’s regulatory oversight function to assess the vessel’s sail-away readiness ahead of its deployment to Nigerian waters.

The statement read, “The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, has expressed delight over the impending increase in oil production.

“The CCE shared his view during an official visit to Dubai Drydocks World in the United Arab Emirates, as part of regulatory oversight of the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel’s sail away readiness.”

According to the EMEM, FPSO is being converted for Oriental Energy Resources Limited and will be deployed to the Okwok Field, operated by Oriental Okwok Limited, offshore Nigeria.

The NUPRC boss undertook a four-hour detailed inspection of the vessel, inspecting critical areas including the Oil and Produced Water Treatment Unit, Gas Injection Modules, Seawater Treatment Facilities, Gas Turbine Generators, Electrical House, LACT Unit, Laboratory, Control Room, and Accommodation Quarters.

The walkthrough enabled the Commission to assess the project’s compliance, quality, and readiness for sail away.

The EMEM FPSO, once deployed, will handle crude production, processing, storage, and offloading operations for the Okwok Field, one of Nigeria’s key offshore assets expected to add meaningful volumes to the nation’s output target.

The development is timely, given Nigeria’s recent push to ramp up production to meet its OPEC+ quota and restore investor confidence in the upstream sector.

Delivering his remarks after the tour of the FPSO, the NUPRC boss said the FPSO’s planned departure to Nigeria was good news as it aligns with the Project One Million Barrels initiative, which seeks to increase the country’s oil production by one million barrels.

“This FPSO is coming to Nigeria at a time we are seeking to increase production. It will help us achieve our project, One Million Barrels. From what I have seen, I am very impressed, and as the regulator, we will continue to give support to Oriental Energy,” he said.

Komolafe also advised Oriental Energy to participate in the next licensing round, noting that the company had demonstrated its capacity to take on more projects in Nigeria’s vibrant oil and gas sector.

“We advise that you participate in the next licensing round at least to optimise your capacity. We are convinced that Oriental Energy has the capacity to contribute to our national development,” he added.

Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Engineer Goni Sheikh, thanked the CCE for encouraging investments in the oil sector.

“We have engaged with your team, and they have been working around the clock, including Saturdays and Sundays, to beat the timelines and attain this. And we must also say that since the start of this project, we have received 100 per cent support from the NUPRC. We thank the regulator for the support, oversight, and guidance that the regulator gives us. You are truly a business facilitator,” he stated.

The Okwok Field Development Project represents a strategic milestone in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry, demonstrating growing indigenous technical capability.

The project entails the conversion of Nordic Mistral, a double-hulled crude tanker with 1 million barrels’ storage capacity, into a fully integrated FPSO with a 15-year operational lifespan.

The EMEM FPSO boasts a processing capacity of 40,000 BOPD, 70,000 BLPD, and includes systems for produced water treatment (60,000 BWPD), water injection (60,000 BWPD), gas processing (15 MMSCFD), gas lift (7.5 MMSCFD), and gas injection (3.5 MMSCFD).

The vessel accommodates up to 100 personnel and employs a 12-point spread mooring system.