TotalEnergies SE and AMNI International Petroleum Development Company have approved an $800 million investment to develop the Ima gas project offshore Nigeria.
The companies announced the final investment decision (FID) for the project, which is located across the OML 112 and OML 117 blocks in shallow waters near Bonny Island, Rivers State.
TotalEnergies holds a 40 per cent interest in the project and operates the field, while AMNI owns the remaining 60 per cent.
The Ima field will be developed with a single offshore platform connected to the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) terminal through a 22-kilometre pipeline.
First production is expected in 2028, with output projected to reach 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The project is expected to supply about a third of the feed gas required for NLNG’s Train 7 expansion.
The Train 7 project is expected to increase NLNG’s liquefaction capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 million tonnes per annum.
Nicolas Terraz, president of exploration and production at TotalEnergies, said the investment marks another milestone in the company’s integrated gas strategy in Nigeria.
“We are very pleased to announce the FID for the Ima gas project, marking a new milestone in the deployment of our integrated gas strategy in Nigeria,” Terraz said.
He said the project follows the Ubeta gas project, which was sanctioned in 2024 and is expected to begin production in 2027.
According to Terraz, the Ima development demonstrates the potential of Nigeria’s non-associated gas resources following fiscal incentives introduced by the Federal Government.
The Ima field has remained undeveloped for about five decades despite being discovered several years ago.
The project is among several non-associated gas developments that have faced delays as operators prioritised oil production and associated gas projects.
TotalEnergies said the Ima development would incorporate measures to reduce emissions, including the use of electricity supplied from shore, no routine flaring and continuous methane detection and monitoring.
The partners said all major contracting packages for the project had been awarded to Nigerian companies.
They also expect about 60 per cent of the workforce during the development phase to be drawn from communities near the field.
The Ima project adds to recent investments in Nigeria’s upstream gas sector as producers seek to increase gas supply for domestic use and support expanding LNG capacity.
Once completed, the project is expected to provide additional feed gas for NLNG’s Train 7 expansion and strengthen Nigeria’s gas supply base.