TotalEnergies SE has signed an agreement to divest its 10 percent interest in a Niger Delta joint venture previously operated by Shell PLC to Vaaris.
Chappal Energies Mauritius Ltd previously entered into a deal to buy the stake but, according to an online statement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on September 25, 2025, failed to consummate the transaction after time extensions.
The Renaissance JV, previously known as the SPDC JV when it was operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), holds 15 licenses producing mainly oil, TotalEnergies noted in a statement announcing the sale to Vaaris. The licenses contributed about 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day to TotalEnergies’ net production last year, the company said.
“TotalEnergies EP Nigeria will also transfer to Vaaris its 10 percent participating interest in the three other licenses of Renaissance JV which are producing mainly gas (OML 23, OML 28 and OML 77), while TotalEnergies will retain full economic interest in these licenses which currently account for 50 percent of Nigeria LNG gas supply”, the statement added.
The completion of the transaction, the price of which has not been disclosed, is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, according to the statement.
Currently Renaissance JV is owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corp Ltd (55 percent), operator Renaissance Africa Energy Co Ltd (30 percent), TotalEnergies EP Nigeria (10 percent) and Eni SpA’s Agip Energy and Natural Resources Nigeria (five percent).
Confirming the collapse of the previous sale to Chappal, the NUPRC said “the withdrawal of a ministerial consent does not in any way rule out the possibility of a future divestment by the interested parties provided such an asset sale is in line with extant laws”.
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