French oil giant, TotalEnergies, has announced that its $550 million upstream gas project, Ubeta gas field, will commence gas production in the next two years.
The Country Chair of TotalEnergies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, made this disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in the country’s capital, Abuja.
Bouyer said the project, which is in partnership with the national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC), will also deliver 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD) including condensates.
This, he said, is in support of Nigeria’s broader gas ambitions.
“The 70,000 BOEPD from Ubeta is a major milestone, and first gas is expected by 2027,” Bouyer noted.
Bouyer also revealed that the TotalEnergies IMA field, located in OML112 and OML117 under the AMNI/TEPNG Joint Venture, is at the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase.
The project has an expected plateau output similar to Ubeta, with a Final Investment Decision (FID) planned for 2026.
Speaking on other developments, the oil firm spokesperson added that TotalEnergies recently made a discovery in Ntokon two years ago.
The discovery is progressing toward development. The company has also acquired additional oil blocks within the past year.
Bouyer mentioned these moves are aligned with the company’s EP Strategy of “More Energy, Less Emissions” as it expands operations in Nigeria.
Innovation, domestic gas, and sustainability
Speaking on sustainability, Bouyer stated that TotalEnergies is deploying advanced technologies to limit emissions across its Nigerian assets.
He cited the use of drone-based AUSEA (Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Application) technology in partnership with NNPC Limited to detect methane leaks. This step is aimed at curbing greenhouse gas output.
“We’re here to support Nigeria, and we’re doing it sustainably,” Bouyer explained.
Bouyer further noted TotalEnergies’ stake in the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Train 7 project as part of its contribution to domestic gas supply.
While acknowledging that the company’s renewable footprint in Nigeria remains modest, he said it is a growing area of interest for the firm.
In addition, he stressed the firm’s integrated model, from exploration to retail, as a means to ensure energy availability across Nigeria’s value chain.
Bouyer added that these projects also align with the Nigerian government’s push to harness more natural gas to drive power generation and reduce dependency on imports.
Nigeria, which holds Africa’s largest proven gas reserves, continues to battle with underinvestment and infrastructure gaps. This is despite growing demand.
Analysts believe that projects like Ubeta and IMA could help the country capture more value from its gas resources, cut flaring, and boost revenue.
