NNPC advocates AI adoption, ‘digital mining’ to unlock 3m bpd production target

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited is pivoting toward an artificial intelligence (AI) operational framework to unlock its ambitious 3 million barrels per day (bpd) crude oil production target by 2030. NNPC Ltd group chief executive officer Bayo Ojulari disclosed the strategy on Thursday at the 2026 Oloibiri Lecture and Energy Forum in Abuja.

Represented by upstream executive vice-president Udobong Ntia, Ojulari stated that the national oil company is ramping up AI pilots and the digital mining of decades-old data to slash costs. He warned that embracing digital transformation is now a commercial imperative, noting that failure to adopt AI could leave operators uncompetitive.

Digital mining to unlock decades of untapped data

Nigeria holds vast reserves of untapped data dating back to the first commercial oil discovery in 1956, much of which remains underutilised on paper logs and unanalysed seismic records. Ojulari emphasised that mining this data is critical to maintaining a competitive edge in a mature industry.

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“It is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’; it is an absolute necessity,” Ojulari said. He argued that technology alone could bring the 3 million barrels target within sight in the next three to four years, preventing operational costs from “ballooning” while improving commercial and regulatory opportunities.

Three-stage strategy targets asset integrity and growth

To sustain this production goal, NNPC Ltd is executing a three-stage strategy. The first stage focuses on “protecting the base” by ensuring the integrity of existing assets and eliminating the culture of “aged facilities” through improved maintenance.

The second stage involves accelerating near-term growth via innovative commercial and financing frameworks to fast-track mature projects. Finally, the company is conducting a strategic portfolio review to “enable new oil from new players,” encouraging indigenous participation and fresh capital through a stable and predictable policy environment.

Reforms trigger $34bn in renewed investment

Recent sector reforms have already delivered approximately $34bn in new investment commitments. Ojulari noted that the resolution of legacy disputes and previously stalled final investment decisions (FIDs) has contributed $24bn from just two projects, with another $10bn in the pipeline for the Owowo and Bosi fields.

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Petroleum Resources (Gas) state minister Ekperikpe Ekpo added that while the country possesses the technical capacity for this transformation, execution remains key. He described the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a watershed that provides the clarity and predictability required to attract capital into both oil production and gas-led industrialisation.