The worst disruptions in Nigeria's oil-producing Delta region are over, and production could reach 2.2 million barrels per day (MMbbl/d) by the end of June, the CEO of Nigeria's Oando said on May 24.
Oando CEO Pade Durotoye told the Africa Independents Forum in London that the long-closed Forcados oil field could be back to capacity by the end of June, enabling a return to nearly full production from what is typically Africa's largest oil exporter.
"We think that the worst is behind us," Durotoye said. "Before the end of June, we will have Forcados back, which would take us comfortably back to 2.2 million bpd."
Attacks in the Niger Delta had pushed production to just over 1 MMbbl/d at certain points in 2016, which was the lowest in decades, but attacks have abated since the start of 2017.
The first Foracdos cargo from the main Trans Forcados export line loaded during the week of May 15, although operator Royal Dutch Shell Plc (NYSE: RDS.A) has said force majeure remains in place.
Durotoye said "bold actions" by the government to address security in the area had helped, and that if it continued, Oando could boost output from 50 Mbbl/d to 150 Mbbl/d within 12-18 months.
Still, Durotoye said concerns over more violence was leading investors to view the region with a lot of caution.
"Capital is still going to be constrained," he said.
Durotoye also said Nigeria's long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which governs everything from the operations of state oil company NNPC to fiscal terms on oil exploration projects, was moving at a more assured pace.
"We expect approval sometime in the second half of the year," Durotoye said.
Uncertainty over fiscal terms has held back upstream investment, especially in capital-intensive deepwater offshore. Durotoye said that PIB approval would "put some [investor] concerns to bed."
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