NIGERIA'S IMA GAS PROJECT: FROM UNTAPPED POTENTIAL TO A NEW WAVE OF OPPORTUNITY

TotalEnergies and Nigerian independent producer Amni have taken the final investment decision (FID) on the $800 million Ima gas project, marking an important step towards unlocking Nigeria’s offshore gas resources.

With major contracts awarded to Aveon and Sudelettra, the project is not just about extracting gas. It is about turning an untapped resource into industrial growth, business opportunities, and a stronger energy future for Nigeria.

Located approximately 15 kilometres offshore in just 8 metres of water, the Ima development will feature a conductor-supported wellhead platform and four wells designed to produce up to 350 million cubic feet of gas per day

The gas will travel through a 23-kilometre pipeline to the Bonny Non-Associated Gas Plant, with 14 kilometres of the pipeline running offshore. From there, it will help supply approximately 30% of the gas required by Train 7 of Nigeria LNG’s Bonny facility.

Think about this, like the fugitive who has been held back in the prisons of waters, now having a chance to help fuel Nigeria’s ambitions in gas processing and exports in the future if released. What a turnaround story!!! And that is the promise of Ima; not merely finding value beneath the waters, but creating value far beyond them.

It is also worthy to note that a project of this magnitude cannot stand on one company or one area of expertise. It takes different hands, specialised skills, and carefully connected systems working towards a common goal. Thus, Aveon has secured the contract for the wellhead platform, while Sudelettra will handle brownfield work at the Bonny Non-Associated Gas Plant. Other critical components include subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines, as well as integrated control and safety systems.

From this stage henceforth, every connection matters. From bringing the gas to the surface, to transporting it safely into existing facilities, each stage depends on the successful delivery of another. And this is where the bigger opportunity begins to emerge.

For Nigerian contractors, engineering firms, equipment suppliers and service providers; projects like Ima are reminders that the oil and gas industry is much bigger than the operators whose names make the headlines. Behind every major investment lies a network of businesses with the skills, equipment and expertise needed to make it work. The question is not just who gets to build the project, but how many capable businesses can find their place in the opportunity it creates.

Furthermore, the Ima project is telling another important story of project delivery in Nigeria and how it has continued to change gradually. Industry reports indicate that its tender process attracted a broad international field of companies, including firms that had successfully delivered similar projects elsewhere but were participating in Nigeria for the first time. This opens an important conversation about competition, expertise and collaboration. When more capable companies enter the field, new ideas, technologies and experiences can come with them. The challenge is to create an environment where these capabilities contribute to successful project delivery while Nigerian businesses also have meaningful opportunities to participate, grow and compete.

For Nigeria, the potential benefits extend beyond production. Reliable gas supply can support industrial activity, strengthen LNG exports, create jobs and open new markets for businesses across the energy sector. However, these benefits depend on execution. Infrastructure must be delivered safely, costs must be controlled, and the project must progress towards its production target. The real measure of Ima’s success will not simply be the gas it produces, but the economic opportunities that flow from it.

A project like Ima demonstrates how many moving parts must come together to make a major energy investment successful.

Operators need capable contractors. Contractors need trusted suppliers. Investors need visibility into opportunities. Service providers need access to the right partners. And local businesses need a clearer path into projects that can expand their capabilities.

At this point, CONNECTIZE becomes very relevant. By connecting businesses, expertise and opportunities across the oil and gas ecosystem, CONNECTIZE aims to make it easier for industry stakeholders to discover potential partners, build relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration. This is because, behind every major energy project is an ecosystem of companies whose combined expertise makes delivery possible.

Ima is a reminder that Nigeria’s gas potential is only the beginning. Connecting the right people, businesses and capabilities is how that potential can translate into a lasting value.