Partners target 350 mn standard cu/ft of gas per day at peak production.

The HI gas development offshore Nigeria will push ahead as Shell-subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, and Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited, have taken a final investment decision (FID) on the project 

The partners target 350 mn standard cu/ft (approximately 60 thousand barrels of oil equivalent) of gas per day at peak production, which will be supplied to Nigeria LNG (NLNG; Shell interest 25.6%) -- a primary producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets. Production is expected to begin before the end of this decade.

“Following recent investment decisions related to the Bonga deep-water development, today’s announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to Nigeria’s energy sector, with a focus on Deepwater and Integrated Gas,” said Peter Costello, Shell’s Upstream President. “This Upstream project will help Shell grow our leading Integrated Gas portfolio, while supporting Nigeria’s plans to become a more significant player in the global LNG market.”

The increase in feedstock to NLNG, via the Train 7 project that aims to expand the Bonny Island terminal’s production capacity, is in line with Shell’s plans to grow its global LNG volumes by an average of 4-5% per year until 2030. It will also bolster NLNG’s contribution to Nigeria's national economic development goals, including jobs in construction and operations.

The HI field was discovered in 1985 and lies in 100m of water depth around 50km from the shore. The current estimated recoverable resource volumes of the HI project are approximately 285 mmboe (million barrels of oil equivalent). 

Heirs Energies CEO, Osa Ighiehon. (Image source: Heirs Energies)

Driven by its African identity, Nigerian independent Heirs Energies operates with an in-house development approach, partnering largely with indigenous contractors

Following its inspiring success story with OML 17, the company is ready to take on further challenging projects, now eyeing the Republic of Congo. 

Heirs Energies CEO, Osa Ighiehon, reveals to Oil Review Africa what it takes to thrive as an African independent in today's energy industry and much more: 

What according to you does Nigeria’s oil and gas industry need right now to attain its full potential? 

Nigeria is at a critical moment. We possess the resources and the human capital to be a global energy leader, yet we are constrained by a few critical but addressable challenges. To unlock our full potential, we must act decisively on three fronts.

First, we must establish unwavering policy certainty. The lifeblood of our industry is investment, and capital flows to jurisdictions that offer predictability and stability. We need a clear, consistent, and transparent regulatory framework, one where fiscal term are stable and approvals are streamlined. Without this foundational trust, we risk ceding competitive advantage and watching investment capital migrate to more predictable markets. There has been a lot of progress on this front in the past few years with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and Presidential Directives.

Secondly, we must secure our infrastructure and consolidate the gains we've made. The scourge of oil theft has been a direct drain on our national treasury. However, the solution that has been deployed needs to be sustained and the threat/vulnerabilities permanently mitigated. As demonstrated with OML 17, where we moved from a 3% terminal delivery to over 99%, it is possible to secure assets through a collaborative model that integrates community engagement, corporate strategy, and crucially, the strengthened security framework provided by the government. This proven model must now be scaled nationally to protect our vital revenue streams and restore investor confidence.

Lastly, and most critically, we must execute a strategic pivot to gas. While oil built our economy, gas is the undeniable key to our future. Sitting on the largest proven gas reserves in Africa, it is an economic paradox that we remain dependent on imported fuels. Gas is the catalyst that will power our industries, generate stable electricity, and drive sustainable economic diversification. At Heirs Energies, we have moved from rhetoric to action, increasing our gas production from 70 mn standard cu/ft to 125 mn standard cu/ft. This is not merely a business decision; it is a national imperative. By prioritising gas, we can finally unlock a new era of industrialisation and long-term prosperity for Nigeria.

While digitalisation is largely being considered the key to production optimisation, do you believe it’s the sole requisite to success? 

Digital tools are important, but they are not a magic fix. Technology helps us work smarter, but it can't replace the need for strong leadership and skilled people.

We use technology at Heirs Energies for monitoring and efficiency. But our biggest breakthroughs have come from our teams. For example, our engineers developed a low-cost way to bring old gas wells back to life. That idea didn't come from a software programme; it came from deep understanding, out-of-the-box thinking and a solution mindset.

While digitalisation gives us better data, our success finally depends on our people - their expertise, ingenuity and commitment to safety. Its this human element that truly makes the most difference.

What is Heirs Energies’ future strategy with OML 17 and other oil and gas assets? 

Our strategy is to build on the proof point that OML 17 represents. When we acquired it, many doubted whether a Nigerian independent could revive such a complex, underperforming asset. Today, we have doubled production, restored security, and brought new energy to the domestic gas market. That success gives us the confidence to look ahead with intent.

At OML 17, we are determined to keep pushing performance higher - optimising oil output, scaling gas production further, and embedding the community partnerships that have become a hallmark of our approach. But the bigger picture goes beyond one asset, we see opportunities across Nigeria and Africa to apply our Brownfield Excellence model - identifying underperforming fields, deploying innovation and discipline, and turning them into engines of growth.

What matters to us is creating long-term value for our investors, for the communities where we operate, and for the economies that depend on reliable energy. That means expanding carefully, investing responsibly, and ensuring that every molecule we produce helps to power Africa’s development. OML 17 was the beginning - but our ambition is to shape the model of how African companies can deliver world-class results and shared prosperity, consistently and at scale. 

This is the second of a two-part interview 

The agreement was signed in Maputo by the Eni-led joint venture. (Image source: Eni)

As Eni's Coral South project effectively continues to be in production, the major has now reached the final investment decision (FID) for the development of the Coral North FLNG project in Mozambique, with an aim for project delivery by 2028 

The agreement was signed in Maputo by the Eni-led joint venture behind the project, in the presence of the President of Mozambique, Daniel Francisco Chapo, and Eni CEO, Claudio Descalzi. 

While Eni is leading the venture with a 50% share, other partners include CNPC (20%), Kogas (10%), ENH (10%) and ADNOC-subsidiary XRG (10%). Eni will be investing on the development of a state-of-the-art floating LNG facility in the Rovuma Basin, where it will be generating gas volumes from the northern part of Area’s 4 Coral gas reservoir.

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi commented: “Coral North project leverages Eni’s unmatched exploration skills, our trademark fast-track and capital disciplined development capabilities, Mozambique’s vast gas resources and its strategic geographic position. With Coral North we will contribute to supply the worldwide growing demand for LNG, doubling both Mozambique's contribution to global energy security, and the benefits for the country and its citizens in terms of economic and industrial growth”. 

Coral North will be Eni’s second development in Mozambique and the second large-scale FLNG delivered in ultra-deep waters worldwide after Coral South. 

With a production liquefaction capacity of 3.6MTPA, the newly built Coral North FLNG - coupled with its predecessor Coral South - will bring Mozambique’s overall LNG production to exceeding 7MTPA, making the country the third-largest LNG producer in Africa and further reinforcing its role in the global energy scenario.

This project underscores GTT’s central role in enabling major floating LNG developments in new markets.

GTT will be delivering the tank design of a new floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit for Samsung Heavy Industries before it is ready for deployment in the African waters

The deal, which was made during the third quarter of 2025, will see GTT designing the cryogenic membrane containment system for the LNG storage tanks, with a total capacity of 238,700 cu/m. The tanks will be fitted with GTT’s Mark III technology.

This project underscores GTT’s central role in enabling major floating LNG developments in new markets and demonstrates how FLNG solutions can rapidly deliver offshore liquefaction capacity without relying on onshore infrastructure.

Philippe Berterottiere, chairman and CEO of GTT, said,“We are proud to contribute our unique expertise to this major FLNG project, which will help harness Africa’s energy potential to support sustainable growth and energy supply. This order confirms the trust of our long-standing partner Samsung Heavy Industries and demonstrates the relevance of GTT’s technologies to support the development of efficient, reliable and safe floating LNG infrastructure.”