Exploration

The Nigerian government is pushing policies to attract investment in the oil and gas sector. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed an Executive Order for US$10bn investments in oil and gas. 

Tinubu was speaking at the opening of a two-day retreat on economic transformation and development organised by the House of Representatives. 

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu also disclosed that the Federal Government signed the consolidated guidelines for implementing fiscal incentives for the oil and gas sector.

He said, “The Executive Order streamlines contracting processes, procedures, and timelines from 36 months to six months. The order also seeks to ensure that local content requirements are implemented without impeding investments or the cost competitiveness of oil and gas projects.

“All of these have the same objective – to reduce government interference with the commercial imperatives of businesses in the country so that businesses based here can be competitive and focus on their core objectives of economic growth through innovation and trade.

“We will need the support of the National Assembly to fully implement some of these reforms, as statutory changes will be required in some areas.
“I am confident that when the time comes, the governing partnership we have established between the Executive and the Legislature will ensure that these changes are effected swiftly to benefit our nation.

"Your actions have substantially fortified the legal framework of the Students Tertiary Education Loan Program, ensuring its efficient implementation. These achievements are a testament to the power of our partnership and the positive impact it can have on our nation.

“The legislature must have the capacity to monitor the executive, and the executive, in turn, should be willing to comply with the legislative enactments.

“It is not just a coincidence but a strategic advantage for our country that the governing relationship between the Executive and the Legislature perfectly reflects this ideal.

“As you know, my administration is implementing significant policy changes to reform how we govern and position our country for progress and shared prosperity for all citizens.”

Tinubu said, “These reforms, while necessary and, in some cases, long overdue, are not without their challenges. I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support and understanding during these times. Your understanding and support have been invaluable, and I am confident that with our continued collaboration, we can overcome any challenges that lie ahead.
“The oil and gas industry has long been the lifeblood of our national economy. My administration is working tirelessly to change this and diversify our economy from overreliance on the production of fossil fuels. However, we are also determined to maximise revenue potential from this critical industry.

“For this reason, we are pushing policies to attract investment in the oil and gas sector.”

He continued, “We can only justify our collective mandate and the trust our people repose in us through constructive collaboration between the National Assembly and the Executive. This joint effort is the minimum the people who voted for us expect from us.

“However, the very essence of checks and balances means there will be times when the executive and legislative prerogatives inevitably collide. Above all else, the national interest must guide our decisions in those moments. We share a common responsibility in shaping the future of our nation, and it is through our collaboration that we can effectively fulfil this duty."

The MOU is valid to 31 May. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Wildcat Petroleum has signed an MOU with the Ministry of Petroleum (MOP) covering the following:

To establish a collaboration agreement to form a Production Sharing Service Agreement (PSSA) between the MOP and WCAT to work together to advance the development and commercial exploitation of the hydrocarbon assets in selected fields in the Republic of South Sudan.

A working party made up of members of both WCAT and MOP will be established to select suitable fields for development and agree suitable terms and conditions. 

The MOU is valid to 31 May and recognises the current status of existing exploration and production contracts in South Sudan including pre-emption rights. It can be terminated on 30 days' notice by either party.

Chairman Mandhir Singh said, "It was very disappointing that the Company was unable to secure the Bamboo field in Sudan (North), however the Company hopes to make up for this disappointment by concentrating on South Sudan."

Yinson Production entered into a firm contract for the provision, operation and maintenance of the Agogo FPSO with Azule Energy in February 2023. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Yinson Production is pleased to announce the successful closing of the limited recourse term loan facility of up to US$1.3bn for the pre- and post-delivery financing of the Agogo FPSO.

The financing is provided by a consortium of 13 lenders, including international banks and institutional investors, and will be utilised over the course of the construction of the FPSO. The financing comprises three pari-passu secured tranches with staggered maturities of up to 10 years post-delivery of the FPSO. Subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, the financing will become non-recourse post-delivery of the FPSO. Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Ltd. acted as Global Coordinating Bank for the financing.

Yinson Production entered into a firm contract for the provision, operation and maintenance of the Agogo FPSO with Azule Energy, a 50/50 joint venture between BP and Eni, Angola’s largest independent oil and gas producer, in February 2023. The contract has a firm operation period of 15 years, with additional optional periods of up to 5 years and a total contract value of up to approximately USD 5.7 billion. The Agogo FPSO will have a production capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day. Once construction is completed, the Agogo FPSO will be deployed to the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development Project located in the West Hub of Block 15/06 offshore Angola.

The Agogo FPSO is designed with a comprehensive suite of carbon emission reduction technologies, including the first-ever carbon capture technology onboard an FPSO. With an estimated reduction of carbon emissions of 27% compared to a conventional design, the Agogo FPSO also incorporates other technologies to reduce emissions including closed flare system, hydrocarbon blanketing, combined cycle technology, automated process controls and all electric drives systems. These features are integral to Yinson Production’s transition towards achieving carbon neutral by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Commenting on the successful closing of the financing, Yinson Production’s chief financial officer, Markus Wenker said, “This transaction is a significant milestone for Yinson Production. It not only is our single largest financing to date, but the commercial multi-tranche structure – the first of its kind in the industry – significantly increases the efficiency of the financing compared to traditional structures, whilst diversifying the funding base by combining different lender groups in a single transaction. We thank all our lenders for their trust in us and support in passionately delivering this powerful financing solution for the Agogo FPSO.”

Azule will be recognised with a 42.5% interest in Block 2914A in the area. (Image source: Azule Energy)

bp-Eni joint venture Azule Energy and private exploration company Rhino Resources Namibia have executed a farm-in agreement in regards to the highly prospective Orange Basin offshore Namibia