- The 2025 Licensing Round aims to attract new entrants and boost exploration across frontier and mature terrains.
- TotalEnergies expressed strong confidence in the 2025 Licensing Round, citing improved transparency and regulatory clarity.
TotalEnergies has praised the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for its transparent conduct of the 2024 mini-bid round. The company has also confirmed a strong interest in the 2025 Licensing Round, set to open on December 1, 2025.
This commendation was delivered during a courtesy visit to the Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe. Leading the delegation was the President of TotalEnergies Exploration and Production, Mr Nicolas Terraz, accompanied by senior executives, including the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mathieu Bouyer. The meeting took place at the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja.
During the engagement, Engr Komolafe reaffirmed the NUPRC’s commitment to maintaining a stable and predictable regulatory framework. He highlighted that the Commission now functions as both a regulator and a business enabler, in alignment with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Nigeria, he explained, has moved beyond an era of regulatory uncertainty. Clarity, consistency and timely intervention are now central to the Commission’s approach. Such reforms have already strengthened investor confidence across the upstream sector.
The CCE also commended TotalEnergies for its work under the Obagi Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT). According to him, these initiatives demonstrate the company’s genuine commitment to sustainable community development. They also reflect the spirit of the PIA’s host community provisions. He encouraged the company to participate actively in the forthcoming 2025 Licensing Round, which is structured to attract high-value investors and stimulate exploration in both frontier and mature basins.
Responding to the remarks, Mr Terraz applauded the transparency shown during the 2024 mini-bid round. Confidence in the Commission’s reform-led processes, he said, continues to grow. Lessons from the 2024 exercise, he noted, will positively shape expectations for the upcoming round. He added that the Commission’s fairness and credibility have further boosted investor trust.
Reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment, Mr Terraz described Nigeria as a strategic component of TotalEnergies’ global portfolio. He stated that the company fully supports the NUPRC’s vision for a competitive, transparent and investment-friendly oil and gas industry. Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about new opportunities and predicted that the 2025 Licensing Round would deliver even stronger results.