Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL), in collaboration with its partners, has flagged off the EMEM Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, en route to the Okwok field development offshore Nigeria. This FPSO is the first fully funded and converted FPSO by a Nigerian indigenous company.

At the Okwok field, EMEM will integrate with the existing Well Head Platform (WHP) and five production wells, with first oil expected in the first quarter of 2026. The vessel has a processing capacity of 40,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and will serve as the main crude oil production, storage, and export facility for the field.

This milestone marks OERL’s first fully independently developed and delivered project following its strategic decision to take direct operating responsibility for its assets. The EMEM FPSO will also complement OERL’s existing production facilities at the Ebok field.

At the sailaway ceremony, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, lauded the project as a demonstration of confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
“This event is not just about launching a vessel; it’s a statement of bold, forward-looking investment in our industry,” he said. Lokpobiri emphasized that projects like EMEM expand production capacity while creating revenue streams to support Nigeria’s development agenda and showcase leadership in a changing global energy landscape.

OERL Chairman, Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Indimi, noted that the sailaway represents a critical milestone for the Okwok field, adding that the decision to develop the field independently in 2022 underscores the company’s commitment to Nigerian-led energy development. He thanked the government, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and relevant petroleum agencies, for facilitating an enabling environment for such investments.

The ceremony also featured prominent attendees, including Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiru (Adamawa), alongside key partners from Drydocks World Dubai and other strategic collaborators.

The commissioning of the EMEM FPSO not only strengthens Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity but also highlights the growing role of indigenous companies in shaping the nation’s energy future.