In a decisive move signaling renewed confidence in Nigeria’s energy potential, Shell and its partner, Sunlink Energies, have given the green light to the HI offshore gas project — a $2 billion investment that could reshape the nation’s LNG landscape and reinforce Shell’s expanding global gas ambitions.
Far from being just another oilfield development, the HI field stands as a cornerstone in Shell’s plan to power Nigeria LNG’s Train 7 expansion — a critical link in the chain driving Africa’s liquefied natural gas exports to the world. Once fully operational, the project is expected to deliver 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, a major boost to Nigeria’s energy export capacity.
“This development is not just about new wells; it’s about securing Nigeria’s role in the global gas supply story for the next decade,” said Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to the Nigerian President. She noted that the HI field alone would contribute nearly a third of the gas required to sustain Train 7 operations.
The field, discovered in 1985, lies roughly 50 kilometers off Nigeria’s coast in shallow waters of about 100 meters. Production is expected to commence before the end of the decade — perfectly timed to feed into Shell’s larger vision of increasing global LNG output by 4–5% annually through 2030.
Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary holds a 40% stake in the project, while Sunlink Energies controls the remaining 60%. The move reinforces Shell’s pivot toward cleaner, export-oriented energy ventures after years of scaling back its troubled onshore portfolio, which was marred by theft, spills, and sabotage.
Despite these challenges, Shell remains deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s gas value chain. The company is the second-largest shareholder (25.6%) in Nigeria LNG, following state-owned NNPC (49%), alongside TotalEnergies and Eni.
The HI project is part of a broader wave of restructuring and reinvestment sweeping through Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Just weeks earlier, TotalEnergies finalized a $510 million sale of its 12.5% interest in Oil Mining Lease 118, home to the Bonga oilfield, transferring ownership to Shell and Eni’s Agip — another step toward consolidating offshore operations.
For Shell, the HI field marks more than an energy project; it’s a statement of intent — a reaffirmation that despite the complexities of operating in Nigeria, the nation’s offshore frontier remains a vital pillar in the global LNG equation.
