Production has resumed at Nigeria’s flagship deepwater oilfield after Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) completed turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO).
The maintenance programme, which began on February 1, 2026, was completed ahead of schedule, enabling the company to restart production at the Bonga field on March 6. SNEPCo said the exercise was delivered 11 days earlier than planned and without any safety incidents, underscoring its commitment to operational efficiency and asset integrity.
Managing Director of SNEPCo, Ronald Adams, described the successful completion of the project as a reflection of the professionalism and dedication of the workforce and partners involved.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners,” Adams said. “The achievement not only secures the long-term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO.”
The maintenance exercise involved extensive collaboration across the industry, with 55 companies participating in the project. Of these, 43 were wholly Nigerian firms, highlighting strong local participation in offshore operations.
SNEPCo also noted that eight of the 12 international service providers involved maintain operational bases in Nigeria, a development that has helped drive knowledge transfer and stimulate local investment in the oil and gas sector.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the maintenance programme, with Nigerians accounting for over 95 per cent of the workforce engaged in engineering, inspection, operations, construction and maintenance activities. Thousands of additional workers supported the project from onshore locations.
Adams expressed appreciation to key stakeholders who supported the successful execution of the project, including NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), as well as the company’s joint-venture partners.
He said the successful completion of the turnaround maintenance reinforces SNEPCo’s role in advancing deepwater oil and gas expertise in Nigeria while strengthening the operational reliability of the Bonga field.
