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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, due process, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
Lokpobiri stated during the sail-away and flag-off ceremony of the EMEM Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, developed by Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL) for the Okwok Field Development offshore Nigeria.
In his keynote address, Senator Lokpobiri described the sail-away of the EMEM FPSO as a landmark milestone that highlights the progress being made toward the objective of ramping up crude oil production sustainably.
He emphasized that the project represents more than the deployment of an advanced production asset, adding that it was a strong signal of investor confidence and the resilience of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“This event is not just the launch of a vessel; it is a statement of confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and a demonstration of the kind of bold, forward-looking investments we need to achieve our national goals.
“With the commissioning of the EMEM FPSO, we are not just increasing barrels; we are also creating the revenue streams required to fund our national development agenda,” Lokpobiri stated.
Senator Lokpobiri commended Oriental Energy for its innovation, resilience, and contribution to national development, noting that such projects exemplify the success of Nigeria’s local content policy and the country’s drive toward energy security.
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The Minister further highlighted the Federal Government’s resolve to maintain fairness and transparency in project approvals, irrespective of personal connections.
“Investors and operators do not need to know me personally before their applications are approved. As long as you comply with the extant laws and regulations, your projects will receive timely consideration. For instance, this is my first time meeting the Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, yet the approval of this project was based solely on compliance and merit,” he noted.
In his remarks, OERL Chairman, Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Indimi, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and industry regulators for creating an enabling environment for indigenous operators to thrive.
“In 2022, we made the ambitious decision to develop the Okwok Field entirely independently. The sail away of the EMEM FPSO is a critical milestone in the field development process,” he said.
Indimi commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Lokpobiri, and officials of the Ministry of Petroleum, Nigerian Upstream, Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, and other agencies that have supported this investment.
“The Minister didn’t have to know me or our company before providing all the necessary support we required. This shows the posture of this current administration, and I commend him for that”.
The event marked another significant stride toward achieving the nation’s broader objectives of sustainable production growth, indigenous participation, and value creation across the petroleum value chain.
