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TotalEnergies has expressed strong interest in participating in Nigeria’s 2025 oil licensing round, citing the country’s more predictable regulatory framework and investor-friendly reforms. The upcoming bid round, announced by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), is set to begin on December 1, 2025.
A delegation from TotalEnergies, led by its President of Exploration & Production, Nicolas Terraz, and Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, visited the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja. The meeting, according to the company, reinforced its long-term commitment to Nigeria’s upstream sector.
During their visit, TotalEnergies praised the regulatory transparency demonstrated in the commission’s earlier 2024 mini-bid round. The company said the clarity and fairness in that process have boosted its confidence in participating in the larger 2025 round.
TotalEnergies’ optimism also reflects broader upstream reforms under Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. The NUPRC CEO, Gbenga Komolafe, told the TotalEnergies team that the commission now sees itself not just as a regulator but as a business enabler.
Beyond the regulatory gains, TotalEnergies recently secured two deepwater exploration permits—PPL 2000 and 2001—in partnership with South Atlantic Petroleum (Sapetro), under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC). The blocks cover roughly 2,000 square kilometers in the West Delta basin.
The PSC includes a minimum work commitment, environmental safeguards, and profit-sharing provisions, signaling TotalEnergies’ readiness to invest heavily in Nigeria’s deep offshore potential.
Industry analysts say TotalEnergies’ push in 2025 mirrors a larger trend: international oil companies are returning to frontier and high-potential African basins, encouraged by stronger policy frameworks and the promise of high-impact exploration.
For Nigeria, the participation of a major global player like TotalEnergies could be a strong vote of confidence, helping attract more capital and technical expertise to its upstream sector. If successful, the licensing round could unlock significant reserves, drive job creation, and strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.
A delegation from TotalEnergies, led by its President of Exploration & Production, Nicolas Terraz, and Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, visited the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja. The meeting, according to the company, reinforced its long-term commitment to Nigeria’s upstream sector.
During their visit, TotalEnergies praised the regulatory transparency demonstrated in the commission’s earlier 2024 mini-bid round. The company said the clarity and fairness in that process have boosted its confidence in participating in the larger 2025 round.
TotalEnergies’ optimism also reflects broader upstream reforms under Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. The NUPRC CEO, Gbenga Komolafe, told the TotalEnergies team that the commission now sees itself not just as a regulator but as a business enabler.
Beyond the regulatory gains, TotalEnergies recently secured two deepwater exploration permits—PPL 2000 and 2001—in partnership with South Atlantic Petroleum (Sapetro), under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC). The blocks cover roughly 2,000 square kilometers in the West Delta basin.
The PSC includes a minimum work commitment, environmental safeguards, and profit-sharing provisions, signaling TotalEnergies’ readiness to invest heavily in Nigeria’s deep offshore potential.
Industry analysts say TotalEnergies’ push in 2025 mirrors a larger trend: international oil companies are returning to frontier and high-potential African basins, encouraged by stronger policy frameworks and the promise of high-impact exploration.
For Nigeria, the participation of a major global player like TotalEnergies could be a strong vote of confidence, helping attract more capital and technical expertise to its upstream sector. If successful, the licensing round could unlock significant reserves, drive job creation, and strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.