Mkpoikana Udoma
Abuja — Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has ramped up production to 240,000 barrels per day just 104 days after taking over operations from Shell, marking a historic performance leap in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Chairman of Renaissance, Dr. Layi Fatona, disclosed this during a panel session at the ongoing NOG Energy Week in Abuja, describing the rapid production growth as proof of the company’s bold commitment to driving oil and gas optimization across its assets.
Fatona spoke on the session ‘Harnessing Africa’s Energy Shift – From Acquisition to Optimisation’ at the NOG Energy Week.
He said, “We have increased production from around 140,000 barrels per day when we took over, and I think yesterday, we were doing something around 240,000 barrels per day. And for the first time in nearly five years, Renaissance was able to deliver up to 1.9 million standard cubic feet of gas to NLNG.”
Renaissance acquired the former Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, joint venture onshore assets in early 2025, making it Nigeria’s biggest upstream operator by asset portfolio and installed capacity.
Fatona emphasized that while speed is important, Renaissance’s top priority is achieving production excellence without compromising on safety, community relations, or environmental standards.
“The country is very, very hungry for increased and enhanced production. But more importantly, we recognize that it is not just the speed at which we do this, but the diligence and care for people, for safety, and for the environment.”
According to him, Renaissance is not just focused on being a replacement for Shell, it’s focused on exceeding expectations with a people-centered and sustainability-driven approach.
>“We inherited over 1,700 staff and more than 5,000 contractors. They are not just contractors; they are our partners. We are here to stay. We are here to deliver the government’s aspirations for increased oil and gas production.”
Fatona also highlighted the company’s alignment with ministerial directives to boost output while ensuring global operating standards are upheld.
“Whatever we do, we will do it safely and with absolute respect for our communities, protecting the environment and never compromising on global best practices,” he said.
Renaissance currently operates Nigeria’s largest onshore and shallow-water oil assets, including key crude export terminals at Bonny and Forcados.
