Lagos, Nigeria
Shell’s withdrawal opens doors for Nigerian firms
Oil major's departure from the Nigerian onshore oil business offers opportunities for local firms, but could also leave a financing gap
On 16 January, Shell announced an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore oil and gas subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), to a consortium of local firms for up to $2.4b. The deal aligns with Shell’s previously stated intention to withdraw from onshore oil production in the Niger Delta. The company's strategy is to streamline its portfolio and concentrate future Nigerian investments in deepwater and gas, stated Zoe Yujnovich, Shell's integrated gas and upstream director. The major has been active in Nigeria since the 1930s. The purchasing consortium, Renaissance Africa Energy — comprising ND Western, Aradel Holdings, the Petrolin Group, First Exploration and Petr
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
