Bonga deepwater field production resumes as Shell completes maintenance on the Bonga FPSO ahead of schedule without safety incidents

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited says it has resumed production at the Bonga Deepwater Field following the completion of turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel.

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In a statement issued on Friday, the company said production restarted on March 6, 2026, after the maintenance exercise was completed 11 days ahead of schedule without any safety incident.

The maintenance project began on February 1, 2026, and involved more than 1,000 personnel working offshore.

The company said over 95 per cent of the workforce involved in the operation were Nigerians engaged in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction activities.

According to the firm, thousands of additional workers also supported the project from onshore locations, reflecting the increasing capacity of Nigerian professionals in offshore oil and gas operations.

The Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, Ronald Adams, described the successful completion of the maintenance project as a testament to the commitment of the workforce and the support of industry partners.

“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners.

“The achievement not only secures the long-term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO,” Adams said.

He disclosed that 55 companies participated in the maintenance exercise, including 43 wholly Nigerian firms.

Adams added that eight of the 12 international service providers involved in the project maintain operational bases in Nigeria, helping to facilitate knowledge transfer and boost local investments.

The managing director also acknowledged the support of key industry stakeholders in completing the project.

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He specifically mentioned the roles of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, as well as other partners who supported the maintenance operation.