TotalEnergies and Nigerian energy company AMNI have taken the Final Investment Decision for the development of the Ima gas field offshore Nigeria, marking a significant step in expanding domestic gas supply to Nigeria LNG and strengthening the country’s liquefied natural gas export capacity. TotalEnergies, which will operate the project with a 40% interest, is partnering with AMNI, which holds the remaining 60%, to develop the field across the OML 112 and OML 117 offshore licences near Bonny Island. According to TotalEnergies and Reuters, production is expected to begin in 2028, with the field targeting plateau output of 350 million cubic feet of gas per day, equivalent to more than 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The Ima gas development will feature a single offshore platform connected to Nigeria LNG through a 22 kilometre pipeline. Once operational, the field is expected to provide about one third of the gas required for Nigeria LNG’s Train 7 expansion, which is designed to increase the Bonny Island facility’s liquefaction capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 million tonnes per annum. TotalEnergies said the project has been designed as a low cost, low emissions development, using electricity supplied from shore, with no routine flaring and permanent methane detection and monitoring. The project also carries a strong Nigerian content component, with all key contractors expected to be local companies and around 60% of the workforce during development projected to come from host communities.
The Final Investment Decision adds momentum to Nigeria’s efforts to unlock new gas resources and expand its position in the global LNG market. TotalEnergies described Ima as another milestone in its integrated gas strategy in Nigeria, following the Ubeta gas project sanctioned in 2024 and expected to start production in 2027. For Nigeria LNG, securing additional feedstock is central to the successful expansion of Train 7, while the wider investment could strengthen gas production, local contracting opportunities and energy export revenues. The Ima project therefore links upstream gas development directly with Nigeria’s ambition to increase LNG output and capture greater value from its substantial natural gas resources.
