Shell Wins Best Upstream Company Industry Award at NIES 2025
Shell Nigeria has been named the Best Upstream Company 2024 at the 2025 Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) held in Abuja. The prestigious award recognizes the contributions of Shell’s subsidiaries in Nigeria, including the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), for their pioneering roles in onshore and offshore oil production.
The award was received by Marno de Jong, Senior Vice President, Nigeria, who expressed appreciation for the recognition. “We’re pleased at the acknowledgment of our efforts in the upstream sector in Nigeria,” he said. “We’re grateful to our partners, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), regulatory agencies, host communities, and other stakeholders for their support. We look forward to their continued cooperation as we remain committed to powering progress in Nigeria.”
Shell’s history in Nigeria dates back to 1958 when SPDC achieved the first-ever oil export from Nigeria, officially launching the country into the league of oil-producing nations. In 2005, SNEPCo further strengthened this legacy by commencing production at Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water oil field.
L-R: Business Opportunity Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Olaposi Fadahunsi; SNEPCo’s Managing Director, Ronald Adams; General Manager, Shell Energy Nigeria, Markus Hector, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Ralph Gbobo and Shell’s Business Value Manager, Chidi Nkazi.. at the Gala Dinner and Award Night of the 2025 edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja…
Beyond its contributions to Nigeria’s crude oil output, Shell’s operations have significantly impacted the country’s economy. The company has supported local workforce development, equipping Nigerians with vital skills in the oil industry and fostering the growth of indigenous businesses. Through an extensive social investment portfolio, Shell has also improved lives across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Speaking on the award, Osagie Okunbor, Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of SPDC, highlighted the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s energy future.
“The NIES award is a celebration of our dedication to Nigeria through our latest investments,” he stated. “These include the construction of a facility in Iseni, Bayelsa State, which will supply 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMScF/d) to the Dangote Fertiliser and Petrochemical Plant in Lagos. Additionally, the $5 billion Bonga North deep-water project, for which SNEPCo recently made a Final Investment Decision (FID), reinforces our long-term commitment to Nigeria.”
Shell Nigeria’s achievements in the energy sector have been widely recognized. In 2023, the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) honored the company for its contributions to gas resource development and Nigerian content advancement.
With its latest NIES award, Shell Nigeria reaffirms its leadership in the country’s upstream sector and its commitment to driving economic growth through strategic investments and sustainable energy solutions.
