Sahara Upstream deploys 380,000-barrel tanker to boost OML 18 crude evacuation

Sahara Upstream has deployed MT D Adesanya, a 380,000-barrel Medium Range (MR) tanker, to strengthen crude oil evacuation operations at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 and improve efficiency across its marine logistics network.

In a statement, the company said the vessel, which has a crude oil capacity of more than 62,000 cubic metres, will serve as an additional mother vessel for OML 18 operations. It will complement the existing MT D Bayero, expanding the infrastructure supporting one of Nigeria’s major upstream oil assets.

The company said the vessel was named in honour of the late Debola Adesanya, who led Sahara’s Kenya operations and played a key role in the company’s growth across East Africa before his death on May 1, 2026.

According to Sahara Upstream, the vessel is stationed at Bonny Anchorage, where it will receive crude oil from shuttle vessels operating within the OML 18 field before transferring the cargo to the Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) Cawthorne facility.

The company said the deployment is expected to improve turnaround times by allowing shuttle vessels to offload more quickly and return to loading operations, thereby increasing crude evacuation efficiency, boosting throughput and reducing operational bottlenecks.

Speaking on the development, Sahara Upstream’s Chief Value Officer, Dr. Tosin Etomi, described the deployment as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening production capacity and supporting sustainable growth.

He said the expanded evacuation infrastructure would enhance operational reliability, improve efficiency and provide the flexibility needed to accommodate rising production volumes both now and in the future.

Etomi added that continued investment in critical energy infrastructure would contribute to economic growth in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Executive Directors Tope Shonubi and Wale Ajibade also described the vessel as a fitting tribute to the late Debola Adesanya, noting that his leadership, resilience and contributions left a lasting impact on the Sahara Group.