Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
He made this known 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.
Lokpobiri described the EMEM FPSO launch as a landmark achievement, saying it demonstrates the country’s progress toward increasing crude oil production sustainably. He said, “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.”
The Minister noted that beyond increasing output, the project would generate critical revenue to fund national development objectives. He commended Oriental Energy for its innovation, resilience, and contribution to national growth, stressing that such initiatives show the success of Nigeria’s local content policy and ongoing drive toward energy security.
Lokpobiri also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to due process in approving projects across the sector. “Investors and operators do not need to know me personally before their applications are approved. As long as you comply with the laws and regulations, your projects will receive timely consideration,” he said.
Chairman of OERL, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and regulatory agencies for creating an enabling environment for indigenous operators. He said, “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 that journey.”
Indimi also thanked President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and key petroleum sector officials for their support. “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,” he said.
The event marked another step toward strengthening local participation, sustainable production, and value creation within Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
