By Macson Obojemuinmin, in Port Harcourt
Nigeria’s petroleum upstream regulator NUPRC moved the needle on the 2020-2022 Marginal field awards in the last two weeks when it formally converted Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) to Petroleum Mining Licences (PMLs) for some of the awardees.
In the event, Ingentia Energies, operator of Egbolom Field (Petroleum Prospecting Licence ( (PPL) 202, and Multisub Energy, operator of Olure field (PPL 218) have had their licences converted to PMLs.
These two were the first of over 40 operators of the marginal fields awarded between 2020 and 2022 to have the formal approval of their Field Development Plans.
Two others whose PPLs may have likely been converted to PMLs are Apani Energy Limited, operator of Apani field (PPL 225) and Nuway Oaklane, operator of Omofejo field (PPL 219) who, like Ingentia and Multisub, had submitted applications for conversion and completed the due diligence exercise.
Several other operators, as of the week of September 1, 2025, were awaiting optional extension approval of the Minister before applying for conversion.
NUPRC (Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission) plans to host all PPL holders of the 2020-2022 Marginal field round to a reception in Abuja during which it would formally hand over the PMLs to Ingentia, Multisub and others whose licences may have been similarly converted. The regulator will also formally award extension of the PPLs to companies who have proven to be diligent in pursuing work programmes in executing the terms of the PPL.
