The President Bola Tinubu-led government has reiterated its commitment to unlocking inactive and untapped energy assets as a key pillar of its strategy to boost national production and enhance energy security.
This reaffirmation came during a working visit by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Ph.D., to the headquarters of TotalEnergies in Paris and its Research Centre in Pau, France.
“Unlocking dormant fields is not optional—it is essential to our energy security and economic growth,” Senator Lokpobiri declared.
According to a statement signed by Nneamaka Okafor, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, the visit—conducted at the invitation of TotalEnergies—was part of broader engagements with key industry operators and policymakers.
TotalEnergies is currently preparing to activate several assets, including blocks awarded in the latest licensing round and previously held fields.
Senator Lokpobiri emphasized that President Bola Tinubu has issued a clear and unequivocal directive to all industry players: “Mr. President has made it explicit—operators must reactivate dormant assets.”
As the policymaker and overseer of regulatory agencies, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is playing a pivotal role in driving this national objective.
“We are pursuing this mission with full dedication, and I’m pleased to see TotalEnergies taking bold steps toward unlocking their inactive and untapped assets,” the Minister added.
During the visit to Pau, the Minister was taken through demonstrations at the institute’s Smart Room and support center, showcasing advanced technologies for exploration and field monitoring. At the company’s Paris headquarters, discussions centered on regulatory frameworks and operational support to facilitate the reactivation of selected assets.
Nicolas Terraz, President of Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, welcomed Nigeria’s strong regulatory support.
“Our commitment is to deploy technical expertise and investment to restart production in these strategic assets,” he said. “Today’s engagement underscores a shared resolve: to boost energy output for mutual benefit.”
The Federal Government remains determined to ensure that operators like TotalEnergies receive the necessary policy, financial, and technical support.
Revitalizing dormant assets remains central to Nigeria’s energy agenda—driving job creation, increasing national revenue, and reinforcing energy sovereignty.
