Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has announced a temporary shutdown of its Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for scheduled turnaround maintenance, prompting a significant output reduction for Nigeria.
The deepwater Bonga facility, situated 120 km offshore in over 1,000 metres of water, typically produces up to 225,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and 150 million standard cubic feet (scf) of gas daily, representing roughly 15 per cent of Nigeria’s recent crude output.
The maintenance is expected to last about six weeks, with operations resuming in March 2026. During this period, cumulative lost production could reach:
Crude oil: ~9.45 million barrels
Gas: ~6.3 billion scf
In 2025, Nigeria’s average crude output fluctuated between 1.4 and 1.6 million bpd, with notable monthly figures including 1.642 million bpd in June and 1.614 million bpd in May, rising from earlier averages of 1.4 million bpd amid measures to curb theft and meet OPEC quotas.
The temporary Bonga FPSO shutdown is expected to tighten supply in the Nigerian oil market, potentially influencing domestic production figures and market dynamics during the maintenance window.
