Singapore-listed Rex International has awarded a series of strategic contracts for offshore production facilities that will drive the redevelopment of the historic Sèmè oilfield, located offshore the Republic of Benin.
The contracts include the supply of a Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU) and an Aframax tanker to serve as a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel.
According to a company statement, the MOPU will be converted from a medium-sized drilling rig and equipped with a custom-built processing package tailored for the project’s requirements.
Both the MOPU and FSO are expected to arrive in Benin by Q4 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Sèmè oilfield’s redevelopment.
Akrake Petroleum, a subsidiary of Lime International, is the operator of the Sèmè Field—also known as Block 1—with a 76% working interest.
The remaining ownership is held by the government of Benin (15%) and Octogone Trading (9%).
Rex International currently owns a 91.65% stake in Lime International, positioning the company as a key player in Benin’s upstream oil ambitions.
In April 2025, Lime Petroleum secured a drilling contract with Borr Drilling for the use of its Gerd jack-up rig.
The 2018-built rig, capable of operating in water depths up to 400 feet and drilling to depths of 30,000 feet, will begin a 120-day campaign at the Sèmè field once its current assignment with Eni offshore Congo concludes in May 2025.
Discovered in 1969 by Union Oil and later developed by Norway’s Saga Petroleum, the Sèmè oilfield produced around 22 million barrels of oil between 1982 and 1998 before shutting down due to low global oil prices.
The current redevelopment initiative will be executed in phases.
The first phase involves drilling a vertical exploration and appraisal well, followed by horizontal wells targeting previously productive reservoirs.
Advanced horizontal drilling and completion technologies will be used to boost oil recovery and manage water production effectively.
Although Benin is not yet a major oil producer like its West African neighbors—Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire—the country sees this project as a critical step toward building a robust oil and gas sector.
The Sèmè redevelopment aligns with Benin’s national strategy to attract upstream investment, reduce dependency on imported energy, and strengthen energy security.
As a member of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), Benin is actively pursuing regional energy cooperation while enhancing domestic production capabilities.
However, final approval for the Sèmè field redevelopment remains pending from Benin’s Ministry of Energy, Water and Mines.
Once approved, the project is expected to significantly contribute to Benin’s energy sector revival, the ministry says.
