Lokpobiri hails NNPCL-First E&P for driving crude production growth

The Abigail Joseph Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, operated by the NNPCL-First E&P Joint Venture on OML 83/85, ramps up output has boosted Nigeria oil production with the significant steps in the oil sector.

Currently producing 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), the FPSO is on track to achieve 70,000 bpd in the near term, with plans to scale up to 100,000 bpd.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, during an inspection offshore Bayelsa State, commended the facility’s progress and its ambitious production goals.

Speaking at the site, the minister emphasized the strategic importance of the facility, saying, “The ongoing work here reflects our collective efforts to increase Nigeria’s crude production. It is impressive to see such commitment from NNPCL and First E&P, especially as First E&P pursues a 23-well drilling campaign to sustain and enhance output. This is a vital step toward achieving our national production targets.”

The Managing Director and CEO of First E&P Limited, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, while reaffirming the company’s dedication to delivering results, said with the support of its partners, it can achieve between 70,000 bpd and 100,000 bpd very soon.

“We are fully committed to meeting and surpassing our current production goals. With the support of our partners and ongoing de-bottlenecking initiatives, we are confident of achieving 70,000 bpd and eventually 100,000 bpd in record time. This project underscores the capability of indigenous companies to deliver on ambitious targets,” he said.

Chief Upstream Investment Officer (CUIO) of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, assured the Minister of the joint venture’s alignment with national objectives.

“The milestones achieved here at Abigail Joseph FPSO are a testament to NNPCL’s determination to deliver results through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches. With the stir of the GCEO We are committed to meeting the Minister’s directive to ramp up production in no distant time,” Wunti said.

Lokpobiri however lauded the role of joint ventures like the NNPCL-First E&P partnership in driving growth within Nigeria’s oil sector. He urged other indigenous operators to leverage the opportunities presented by ongoing reforms to further the country’s energy objectives.

Tribune Online reports that the Abigail Joseph FPSO stands as a symbol of progress and collaboration in Nigeria’s oil industry, demonstrating the transformative potential of indigenous-led partnerships and innovation in unlocking hydrocarbon wealth.

With sustained efforts and strategic investments, the NNPCL-FIRST E&P Joint Venture is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the nation’s oil production capacity.