Tony Attah, a seasoned leader with an extensive background in Nigeria’s energy sector, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, a Nigerian consortium. This strategic move follows the consortium’s recent acquisition of Shell Nigeria’s onshore business, a transaction valued at a staggering $2.4 billion. The consortium’s composition includes notable entities such as ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith, and Petrolin, marking a significant shift in the ownership and management of Shell’s extensive assets in the region.
Africa Oil & Gas Report, a leading energy intelligence publication, confirmed Attah’s appointment, signaling a new era for the consortium. Under Attah’s leadership, Renaissance is set to oversee the operation of Shell’s former 30 percent stake in the SPDC-JV, which comprises 18 Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) in both onshore and shallow water territories within the Niger Delta basin. These leases include crucial assets that have historically been the backbone of the NLNG’s feedstock, a company where Shell retains a 25.6% stake.
Tony Attah brings to Renaissance a wealth of experience, particularly in gas monetization, a crucial area for the consortium as it inherits the operation of significant fields like Gbaran Ubie, Soku, Bonny (onshore), and EA (shallow water). His expertise is expected to play a pivotal role in leveraging these assets for the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s gas industry.
Before joining Renaissance, Attah held the position of Managing Director at NLNG Ltd from September 2016 to July 2021. During his tenure, he led the company to the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the ambitious $10 billion Train 7 LNG plant. This project aims to boost NLNG’s capacity by 35 percent, reaching a total of 30MMTPA. His leadership at NLNG was characterized by significant advancements, particularly in navigating the company through the complex journey of expanding its LNG train, a project that had seen limited progress under previous leaderships.
Attah’s career has been distinguished by a series of high-profile roles within the energy sector. He served as the Managing Director and Board Chairman of Shell Nigeria E & P Company (SNEPCo), Vice President of HSE and Corporate Affairs, Vice President of Human Resources (HR), and several other positions that span both technical and non-technical aspects of the energy industry. His leadership has been marked by a strategic and commercial mindset, supported by a solid technical foundation and exceptional leadership skills.
Educationally, Attah is well-prepared for his role. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Benin. He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
As Renaissance embarks on this new chapter with Tony Attah at the helm, the consortium is positioned to address the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s onshore business landscape. With his track record of strategic decision-making, technical expertise, and leadership, Attah is expected to steer Renaissance towards realizing its vision of enhancing the value of its newly acquired assets while contributing to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s energy sector.
