L-R: Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Ron Adams; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri ; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe; and Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Wole Ogunsanya at the 9th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos …on Tuesday
Nigeria’s deep-water production can meet production targets with investment friendly policies says Shell
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) says Nigeria’s target of over 2.4 million barrels per day can be met if ongoing reforms are sustained.
Ronald Adams, Managing Director of SNEPCo said this in a statement by Mrs Gladys Afam-Anadu, Media Relations Manager of the energy firm on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Adams spoke at the 9th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) which began in Lagos on Tuesday.
SNEPCo noted that the increased output will improve the country’s earnings and subsequently provide resources to fund development projects if Nigeria continues with policies to encourage investments and boost output in the sector.
“Deep water is a compelling consideration for Nigeria if the country must meet its oil production targets and implement ambitious development programmes,” Adams said.
According to Adams, Nigeria’s deep-water fields are home to some of the world’s most promising associated and non-associated gas reserves, with vast untapped potential.
The fields could play a vital role in powering Nigeria’s future, supporting cleaner energy and contributing to global emissions reduction.
“This will require a favourable investment climate to attract capital and innovation to develop these gas resources responsibly and sustainably, ensuring long-term benefits for the country in meeting its energy and global sustainability goals,” he said.
Adams welcomed reforms by the government to attract investments, especially the signing of three executive orders in February last year on tax incentives, local content compliance requirements and reduction of petroleum sector contracting costs and timelines.
He said that tax credits were also announced for new investments in deep-water oil and gas.
The reforms, he noted, should be part of a renewed strategy to attract investments “through fiscal and regulatory policies that are fit-for-purpose, forward-looking and competitive.
He said that, for Nigeria to consistently reap the benefits from deep-water operations, it must address regulatory bottlenecks through streamlined and faster approval processes and consistent and fair policy enforcement.
Adams spoke on Shell’s vision for unlocking Nigeria’s deep-water potential.
He assured that the company would continue to leverage its expertise since it pioneered production at the Bonga field in 2005 which achieved 1 billion barrels export milestone in 2023.
He said that further developments include the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the $5 billion Bonga North deep-water project announced in 2025..
He said SNEPCo’s deep-water achievements have resulted in the payment of taxes and royalties to government, development of indigenous businesses through contract awards and implementation of social investments across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“Shell has powered progress in Nigeria and our vision is to build on our support and help the country to achieve energy security and economic development.
“We will do this by continuing to take innovative approaches to deep-water development, reducing costs and ensuring better and quicker returns for all stakeholders.” Adams said.
