Africa Oil+Gas Report Names Aradel Top Indigenous Energy Firm in Nigeria

Peter Uzoho

The 2025 Africa Oil+Gas Report’s ‘Talented Tenth’ Ranking has placed Aradel Holdings Plc at the forefront of Nigeria’s indigenous oil and gas independents, marking the company’s fourth time topping of the influential list.

The recognition highlights Aradel’s standing as one of Nigeria’s most diversified energy players, with a unique combination of upstream production, refining, and gas processing capacity.

The ranking noted the company’s operational performance, which showcased significant upward momentum in the first half of 2025.

Operated crude oil production saw a nearly 20 per cent year-on-year increase, reaching 15,508 barrels per day.

Concurrently, its three-train refinery delivered 165.3 million litres of petroleum products, a notable 32.7 per cent rise from the previous year.

Gas production also maintained its growth trajectory, averaging 41 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) in the first half of 2025 and climbing to approximately 72 MMscf/d by August.

Further expansion is expected as ongoing debottlenecking at its Ogbele plant is slated to increase output to 80 MMscf/d, supported by a Gas Supply Agreement with partners to deliver additional volumes to NLNG.

In its assessment, the report cited Aradel’s strategic role in major industry shifts, including the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) by Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings (Renaissance), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) incorporated specifically for the transaction.

NDWestern and Renaissance are projected to be key contributors to the company’s non-operated asset earnings.

Beyond its core operations, the ranking also acknowledges Aradel’s consistent and deep-rooted commitment to community investment.

Years prior to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) making community trusts mandatory, the company was voluntarily dedicating a fixed percentage of its annual profit to social development. It has since transitioned to a fully PIA-compliant trust, completing extensive needs assessments and launching a multi-year development agenda.

This agenda includes projects ranging from a medical outreach in the six Host Communities in which its Ogbele Field operations are carried out, which provided medical intervention to over 6000 community residents. The projects also included an Employability Training Programme (with Certification) for 120 host community youths (in fields such as Crane Operations, Process Instrumentation, Scaffolding, Wellhead Services/Maintenance, Sandblasting and Industrial Painting, Industrial Plumbing, and Welding & Fabrication.

Next year, the company will begin construction of a new cottage hospital for the benefit of the communities in which it carries out its Ogbele Field operations.

One year after its 2024 listing on the Nigerian Exchange, Aradel is expanding its upstream footprint, with ongoing drilling at Omerelu and redevelopment plans for Olo and Olo West slated for 2026, thereby solidifying its position as an industry leader shaping the future of Nigeria’s energy sector.