The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has revealed plans to begin the 2025 Licensing Round on December 1, 2025.
Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Commission, made the announcement during the NUPRC’s Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum in London.
In a statement signed by the NUPRC Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, Komolafe confirmed that the move followed the approval of President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
Komolafe stated that the Commission had received the necessary approval to officially commence the 2025 Licensing Round on December 1, 2025.
The round is designed to unlock Nigeria’s undeveloped oil and gas resources, with special attention to gas assets.
According to Komolafe, the initiative aims to boost upstream output and turn previously discovered but idle fields into producing assets.
Licensing rounds have long been central to Nigeria’s upstream industry.
Major rounds took place in 2000, 2005, and 2007, while the 2010s featured smaller ones targeting marginal and deepwater fields.
These rounds were meant to draw investment and increase production, although several awarded blocks in earlier rounds failed to progress due to financial, technical, or regulatory hurdles.
The NUPRC plans to release detailed guidelines soon, outlining available blocks, qualification criteria, and submission timelines to promote transparency and help investors prepare effectively.
source: punchng.com
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