E&P

The Ima gas field will be connected to Nigeria LNG.

In line with strategic interests for high-value natural gas developments in West Africa's energy corridor, TotalEnergies has decided upon developing the Ima Gas Field in Nigeria

This will contribute to Nigeria's domestic industrialisation objectives as it accelerates monetisation drive from its vast non-associated gas reserves. TotalEnergies' ambitions in the region is one of many such international interests ever since the country has been offering generous incentives to majors as part of upgraded regulatory reforms. Supportive government policy, strong regional partnerships, and rising global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) are fuelling Nigeria’s export capacity.

Final investment decision for Ima gas field

TotalEnergies (40%, operator), along with its partner AMNI (60%), have reached final investment decision (FID) for the development of the Ima gas field, straddling the OML 112 and 117 offshore licenses in Nigeria.

Lying in shallow waters by Bonny Island, the Ima gas field will be connected to Nigeria LNG (15%, TotalEnergies) via a 22 km pipeline. With a single paltform required for the Ima gas field development, the partners are aiming to start-up production in 2028. Once operational, it is expected to generate 350 million cubic feet per day (representing over 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day).

Supporting Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion

One third of the gas required to power the ongoing Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion project will be supplied by the Ima field once it's on stream. This will raise the liquefaction plant capacity from 22 million tons per annum (Mtpa) to 30 Mtpa.

The Ima field development will follow a sustainable approach ensuring cost effectiveness and emissions reduction. Electrically powered from the shore, the simplicity of the single-platform structure will require no flaring. There will be permanent methane detection and monitoring. 

While the major is developing the project in partnership with the Nigerian company, AMNI, key contracts involved in the project are also local companies. The project is thus contributing to local community development, with around 60% of the workforce expected to be sourced from host communities during the project development.

“We are very pleased to announce the FID for the Ima gas project, marking a new milestone in the deployment of our integrated gas strategy in Nigeria. After the Ubeta project sanctioned in 2024 and expected to start-up next year, Ima demonstrates again our ability to unlock new low-cost and low-emissions gas resources, following the incentives introduced by the Nigerian Government for non-associated gas developments”, said Nicolas Terraz, President Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies. “This new project will contribute significantly to Nigeria LNG gas supply and create lasting value for its partners and for Nigeria.”

Essar lies in the concession area C 103.

While carrying a history of severe geopolitical instability, Libya's resilience in still being able to attract global investment interests speaks volumes about the richness of its reserves

Known to hold Africa's largest proven oil resources, Libya moves North African supply dynamics. International oil companies are increasingly returning to reactivate dormant fields and tap into high-potential basins. Central to this resurgence is the Sirte Basin, a historically prolific region offering significant infrastructure proximity.

Recently, the country has reported several successful appraisals, marking a critical turning point for international investment, signaling restored commercial confidence and renewed momentum in Libya’s long-term energy output goals.

Resource discovery and infrastructure integration

OMV has classified the Essar well in Libya’s Sirte Basin as commercially viable following technical and economic evaluations. Previously, the Libya NOC too approved the discovery's commercial viability. 

The well lies in the concession area C 103, where OMV holds 12% interest.

With an indication of total recoverable resources reaching up to 45 million barrels of oil, the reservoir is being prepared for development by Zueitina Oil Company. It will be easier to hit production timelines from thew concession sooner as it lies adjacent to existing production and processing facilities, ensuring cost-efficiency as well. The discovery highlights Libya’s potential as one of Africa’s most important energy regions and marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between OMV and the NOC.

“The Essar discovery is a major milestone for OMV and our partners at the NOC. It confirms not only Libya’s considerable potential, but also the value of long-term partnerships, technical excellence, and our unwavering commitment on the ground. Strategic collaborations such as this are essential to providing the energy the world needs. I am proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to the next chapter in Libya”, said Berislav Gaso, OMV executive vice president for energy.

Upstream strategy in North Africa

OMV holds Libya strategically important as part of its upstream growth interests in North Africa. The company has been an active player in Libya for around 50 years and is among the country’s long-standing international energy partners. It resumed operations in the country in 2024, after a hiatus of more than ten years.

OMV has extensive experience in the exploration and production of oil and gas in North Africa and relies on close cooperation with local partners as well as the continuous optimization of existing assets. Libya holds Africa’s largest proven oil reserves and ranks among the world’s most significant oil-producing countries.

Petrobras secures several PSCs with Petroci. (Image source: Petrobras)

With deepwater knowledge gathered over several decades in pre-salt basins, Brazil's national energy company, Petrobras, is now looking towards Africa because of its mirror image geology 

Being conjugate basins, Brazil and Africa share very similar geological patterns, making it structurally and technically easier for Petrobras to explore and generate production.

Alternative to declining pre-salt reserves

While Petrobras' massive pre-salt fields off the coast of Rio de Janeiro are highly lucrative today, these are gradually declining in production count and might stop producing by the 2030s. The Brazil oil major is thus strategising resources diversification to replenish its oil resreves. It keeps seeking new frontiers to expand exploration portfolio, generating long-term value and sustainability for the company. 

Eight blocks in Ivory Coast

After closing major exploration deal in Ghana, Petrobras has signed production sharing agreements (PSCs) with Petroci Holding to secure exploration interests across eight offshore blocks in Ivory Coast.

The PSCs were formalised through the major's wholly-owned subsidiary Petrobras Netherlands BV during a signing ceremony in Abidjan, where Petrobras' executive director of exploration and production, Sylvia Anjos, was present. This gives Petrobras a 90% stake as operator of Blocks CI-513, CI-600, CI-601, CI-602, CI-603, CI-605, CI-701 and CI-702. Petroci, on the other hand, retains a 10% stake in all these blocks.

African Atlantic margin potential

"With this acquisition, Petrobras assumes a significant presence in Ivory Coast, a country located in a region of high exploratory potential, with geological characteristics similar to those of our sedimentary basins. We will apply our experience and technical capacity to these blocks and we are confident that, with them, we will be able to uncover all the possibilities that we believe exist on the African Atlantic margin," said the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard.

This is in line with Petrobras' business plan for exploration portfolio diversification, focusing on new prospects not only in Brazil but internationally. It will promote value creation and long-term business sustainability for the major. 

Eni has invested in Ghana Blocks in line with IILX strategy.

With Ghana strategically positioning itself to maximise offshore resource extraction, Tano Basin off the coast of West Africa remains its biggest asset, drawing substantial foreign direct investment prospects

The prolific petroleum province houses vast deepwater discoveries holding sustainable economic growth potential to last generations. This is why in line with national regulatory standards, the Government of Ghana is actively collaborating with international energy majors to sustain long-term oil production, boost domestic gas supplies, and optimise existing marine infrastructure. 

Finalisation of key memoranda of understanding

The Government of Ghana has finalised two memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Eni Ghana and Vitol Upstream Tano Ltd on offshore Blocks GH WB 3 and GH WB 8 in the Tano Basin. 

On behalf of the Government, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition of the Republic of Ghana, John Jinapor, signed the MoU's in the presence of executives from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

Exploration strategy and deepwater scope

Eni has invested in these Blocks in line with its near-field and infrastructure-led exploration (ILX) strategy to extract maximum potential by means of infrastructure repurposing or utilising prospects from existing ones.

While the two Blocks span across an area of approximately 2,100 sq km in water depths ranging from 750-2,800 m, Eni will be aiming output that will add to these Blocks' potential by connecting them to established producing areas.

Eni's commitment to Ghana's upstream framework

These MoUs are follow-ups on the Memorandum of Intent that was signed last year, sealing the major's long-term commitment to Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector. The major will be operating in the region, not only in terms of business intent but also with an aim to contribute to uplifting Ghana's petroleum resources in accordance with the country's legal and regulatory framework.

Eni's presence in Ghana dates back to 2009, with offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production activities now generating 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The company is the operator of the OCTP project with a 44.4% share in partnership with Vitol (35.6) and GNPC (20%). The joint venture’s portfolio of projects also includes initiatives in the areas of training, economic diversification, access to water and sanitation and access to energy.