Nigeria has taken a major step in bolstering its oil and gas industry with the in-country upgrade of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Tamara Nanaye, marking a significant achievement for local engineering and expertise. The upgrade, taking place at the Laudo yard in Apapa, Lagos, is the first of its kind to be executed entirely within Nigeria and only the second time such a sophisticated project has been carried out on the African continent.
The Tamara Nanaye is set to undergo comprehensive modifications before its deployment to the Kalaekule field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 71/72. Once operational, the vessel is expected to add 40,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 50 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas to Nigeria’s production. This project is viewed as a critical step in helping the country achieve its goal of surpassing 2 million bpd in oil production.
During a tour of the facility, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed his pride in the progress of the upgrade. He commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and private sector partners like Century Group, Dangote Industries, and Access Bank for their roles in realizing this milestone. Lokpobiri stressed that projects like the Tamara Nanaye upgrade are pivotal to Nigeria’s efforts to address its infrastructure challenges and enhance its energy production capacity.
“This is exactly what Nigeria needs at this critical time in our development,” Lokpobiri stated. “Our focus is not just on exploration but also on maximizing our current assets and enhancing local capacity to strengthen our oil production output.”
The project is also closely aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector. The President has emphasized private sector participation, which aligns with the principles of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), a legislative framework designed to foster investment and make NNPC a profit-driven enterprise. Lokpobiri noted that the collaboration between public and private entities in the Tamara Nanaye upgrade serves as a model for future initiatives that will contribute to national growth.
Ken Etete, CEO of Century Group, highlighted the technical complexities involved in upgrading the FPSO. Originally designed for deep water operations in Australia, the vessel has been adapted for its new deployment in the shallow waters of the Kalaekule field. Key modifications include the conversion of the mooring system from a turret to a spread system, which enhances operational safety and efficiency. Additionally, structural reinforcements are being made to ensure the vessel can withstand the harsh offshore environment.
Further upgrades include the installation of a three-phase separation system to improve oil and gas production and a new flare stack to meet international environmental standards. The project’s reliance on local expertise, with minimal international oversight, is a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s oil sector, reflecting the country’s growing technical capabilities.
Expected to be completed by early 2025, the Tamara Nanaye upgrade will not only boost Nigeria’s oil output but also strengthen the nation’s workforce and infrastructure, positioning Nigeria as a stronger competitor in the global energy market.