Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has completed turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, paving the way for the resumption of production at Nigeria’s flagship deepwater field on March 6, 2026.
The company said in a statement on Friday that the maintenance programme was completed 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incident.
According to SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, the early completion reflects the commitment and professionalism of the workforce involved in the project.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the strong support of our partners,” Adams said.
He noted that the milestone would help ensure the long-term operational integrity of the Bonga FPSO while strengthening preparations for the upcoming Bonga North project.
“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 benefit from the improved reliability of the facility,” he said.
The turnaround maintenance exercise, which began on February 1, 2026, also underscored SNEPCo’s role in building deepwater operational capacity in Nigeria. Of the 55 companies involved in executing the project, 43 were wholly Nigerian, Adams said.
He added that eight of the 12 international service providers engaged in the project maintain operational bases in Nigeria, supporting knowledge transfer and encouraging increased local investment.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95 percent of them Nigerians engaged in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction activities.
Thousands of additional workers provided onshore support, highlighting the growing depth of Nigerian expertise in offshore oil and gas operations.
Adams also acknowledged the support of key industry stakeholders in delivering the project, including NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, and the company’s partners.
