The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, has described the imminent sail-away of the EMEM FPSO to Nigeria as a major boost to the country’s Project One Million Barrels (POMB) initiative, which targets raising national crude oil production by an additional one million barrels.
Komolafe made the remark during a visit to Dubai Drydocks World (DDWD) in the United Arab Emirates, where the FPSO is undergoing final conversion and readiness checks.
According to him, the arrival of the vessel in Nigeria marks a significant step toward strengthening production capacity and advancing ongoing upstream development efforts.
The EMEM FPSO is being converted at DDWD for Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL) and will be deployed to the Okwok Field (PML 15), operated by Oriental Okwok Limited offshore Nigeria.
A statement issued by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communication, noted that Komolafe inspected critical components of the facility, 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.
Komolafe said the inspection was essential to ensure the Commission could verify the project’s compliance, quality and overall readiness for sail-away. He stressed that the Okwok field development represents a strategic milestone for Nigeria’s upstream industry, highlighting the expanding technical competence of indigenous operators.
The project involves converting the Nordic Mistral—a double-hulled crude tanker with a storage capacity of one million barrels—into a fully integrated FPSO with a 15-year operational lifespan.
“This FPSO is coming to Nigeria at a time we are working to increase production. It will help us achieve our Project One Million Barrels target,” he said. “From what I have seen, I am very impressed, and as the regulator, we will continue to support Oriental Energy.”
Komolafe further urged Oriental Energy to participate in the next licensing round, noting that the company had proven its capacity to take on more upstream projects.
“We advise that you participate in the next licensing round to optimise your capacity. We are convinced that Oriental Energy has what it takes to contribute to national development,” he said.
Goni Sheikh, Executive Vice Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, commended the NUPRC for its consistent support, saying the Commission’s team had worked tirelessly—including on weekends—to ensure the project stayed on schedule.
“We have received 100% support from the NUPRC since the start of this project. The regulator has truly been a business facilitator,” he said.
The EMEM FPSO has a processing capacity of 40,000 BOPD and 70,000 BLPD, with systems for produced water treatment (60,000 BWPD), water injection (60,000 BWPD), gas processing (15 MMSCFD), gas lift (7.5 MMSCFD), and gas injection (3.5 MMSCFD). The vessel can accommodate up to 100 personnel and is equipped with a 12-point spread mooring system.
