Komolafe says vessel aligns with Project One Million Barrels as NNPC targets 2 million barrels daily by 2027…
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s improving crude oil output, describing the development as a positive step toward achieving the country’s production targets.
Komolafe made the remarks during an official visit to Drydocks World Dubai (DDWD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he led a regulatory inspection of the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel ahead of its sail-away to Nigeria.
The FPSO, currently being converted at the Dubai facility for Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL), will be deployed to the Okwok Field (PML 15), operated by Oriental Okwok Limited, offshore Nigeria.
During the four-hour visit, Komolafe carried out a detailed walkthrough of critical components of the FPSO, 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 inspection, according to NUPRC, was aimed at confirming the vessel’s compliance, quality standards, and readiness for deployment to Nigerian waters.
Speaking after the assessment, Komolafe commended Oriental Energy for maintaining international quality standards and reaffirmed the Commission’s support for indigenous operators contributing to the nation’s output growth.
“This FPSO is coming to Nigeria at a time when we are seeking to boost production. It will significantly contribute to our Project One Million Barrels initiative. From what I have seen, I am very impressed, and as the regulator, we will continue to support Oriental Energy,” Komolafe stated.
He further encouraged the company to participate in Nigeria’s next oil licensing round, citing its proven technical competence and commitment to local content development.
Nigeria’s Oil Output on the Rise
The visit comes as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced that the country’s oil production has risen to 1.7 million barrels per day, with projections to reach 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day in the long term.
NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, disclosed this during the “Energy Talk” session at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2025) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Recent figures from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) show that Nigeria’s crude production, which averaged between 1.3 and 1.4 million barrels per day from January to June 2025, climbed to 1.5 million barrels per day in July before dropping slightly to 1.4 million in August and 1.3 million in September.
Ojulari had attributed the temporary decline to industrial disruptions linked to the standoff between the Dangote Refinery, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Boost for Indigenous Capacity
The EMEM FPSO project represents another milestone for Oriental Energy, one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous exploration and production companies. Its deployment is expected to strengthen the country’s offshore production capacity and contribute to the Federal Government’s broader goal of increasing daily output by one million barrels under the Project One Million Barrels initiative.
Komolafe reaffirmed the NUPRC’s commitment to ensuring that all upstream projects meet the highest safety and environmental standards while supporting the drive toward energy sustainability and national economic growth.
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