TugbotalEnergies’ Ubeta, Ima Projects
Investments in Nigeria’s offshore gas industry are beginning to gather momentum following incentives introduced by the Bola Tinubu administration, with TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria Limited now targeting first production from two major projects in 2027 and 2028.
The company’s Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, Victor Bandele, disclosed that the Ubeta deepwater project is expected to commence production in 2027, while the Ima shallow-water offshore project is scheduled for first oil in the fourth quarter of 2028.
Bandele made the disclosure in Lagos during a special panel session at the Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) 2026, which ended at the weekend.
He said incentives introduced by the Federal Government in 2023 and 2024 to stimulate investment in gas projects had helped TotalEnergies and other operators move forward with developments that had previously struggled to reach investment decisions.
The development is significant for Nigeria’s gas ambitions, particularly as the two projects are expected to provide additional feedstock to Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG).
Although TotalEnergies did not publicly disclose the production capacity of the two projects, industry sources told newsmen that each could deliver as much as 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), equivalent to roughly 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Bandele recalled that after TotalEnergies brought the Egina deepwater field into production in 2018, Nigeria experienced a prolonged period without another deepwater project coming on stream.
He attributed the investment lull largely to inadequate incentives, saying the policy changes introduced by the Federal Government have begun to alter the situation.
“I am happy today to speak about projects that have matured because of the shift in processes. We know there were incentives for offshore natural gas, and that was in 2023/2024,” Bandele said.
He explained that TotalEnergies responded by taking the Final Investment Decision (FID) on Ubeta in 2024, with work now progressing on the project.
“The Ubeta project is ongoing as we speak. It is one of the projects with the highest local content, as many Nigerian companies are participating. And Ubeta should be in production next year. So, incentives improved; projects sanctioned and projects will be delivered,” he said.
The Ubeta field is located within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 58, approximately 80 kilometres offshore Port Harcourt.
Bandele said the company was also moving closer to a final investment decision on Ima, which is located offshore Port Harcourt under the AMNI/TotalEnergies Joint Venture.
“I think that is the trend we are desperate to see in Nigeria. Today, we are working on concluding FID for the Ima project with our partner. The FID is imminent, and first oil is planned for Q4, 2028,” he added.
The two developments are expected to play a role in strengthening gas availability for the Nigeria LNG facility on Bonny Island, particularly as the company advances Train 7, which is currently under construction.
Gas produced from Ubeta and Ima is expected to be directed towards NLNG as feedstock, helping to support Nigeria’s LNG ambitions and potentially increasing the reliability of supply to the facility.
The projects also come against the backdrop of a broader push by the Nigerian government and industry players to increase domestic gas production and attract fresh capital into offshore developments.
In August 2025, TotalEnergies, Shell, NNPC Limited and other gas producers agreed to supply 1.29 billion cubic feet of gas per day as feedstock to NLNG.
The planned developments therefore represent more than new oil and gas production.
For TotalEnergies, they are evidence that improved fiscal and investment conditions can move long-delayed projects from the drawing board to actual production.
For Nigeria, the successful delivery of Ubeta and Ima could provide additional gas supplies, strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure and demonstrate whether the government’s new investment incentives can sustain a fresh cycle of offshore development.
