Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) has achieved a significant milestone in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector with the successful completion of the first crude oil export from its newly constructed Otakikpo onshore terminal. The export took place on Sunday, June 8, at approximately 2:00 PM, when an off-taker vessel chartered by Shell lifted the maiden crude cargo from the terminal, situated in the Otakikpo marginal field in Rivers State.
This development marks the inauguration of Nigeria’s first privately built and operated onshore crude export facility in over five decades. The terminal, which commenced construction in 2023, boasts an initial storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, with plans for expansion to accommodate up to three million barrels. It also features a 360,000 barrels-per-day pumping capacity for loading export tankers.
Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, Chairman of GEIL, expressed his pride in the achievement, attributing the success to the dedication of the company’s staff and the support of regulatory agencies. He emphasized that the project was completed in under two years and stands as the first crude terminal developed by an African private operator. GEIL has invested over $400 million in the initial phase of the project, with full development expected to exceed $1.3 billion.
The Otakikpo terminal is designed to accommodate up to 250,000 barrels per day of crude injection, while the Otakikpo field currently produces around 10,000 barrels per day. The facility also provides strategic evacuation options for over 40 nearby stranded oil fields estimated to hold more than three billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Energy analysts suggest that the terminal could help boost Nigeria’s crude output, reduce reliance on offshore terminals, and attract fresh investments into the country’s oil sector. With rising global demand for African crude, the terminal is poised to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the international energy arena.