Energy
Nigerian Refiners Struggle for Crude as Explorers Export 306m Barrels
Amidst domestic refiners in the Nigerian market struggling to meet crude requirements, their counterparts in the exploration end exported an estimated 306 million barrels of crude oil between January and October 2025.
This was detailed in a report from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The data reveal that while Nigeria produces substantial volumes of crude, the bulk of it is earmarked for export, leaving domestic refineries struggling to obtain adequate feedstock.
ALSO READ: Flouting Presidential Directive Threatens 2.5mbpd Target – PETAN
Recall that there are several reports that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been complaining of low crude supply despite the naira-for-crude deal, which has compelled it to source feedstock from the United States and even from neighbouring countries like Ghana and others.
In a related development, the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has frequently lamented that some of its members’ modular refineries have had to shut down intermittently due to a lack of crude oil.
Between January and October, the CBN data shows that Nigeria’s crude production amounted to roughly 443.5 million barrels, averaging about 1.45 million barrels per day over the period.
The calculation of total production is derived directly from the CBN’s monthly figures, which are presented in million barrels per day.
To determine actual monthly production, the daily output was multiplied by the number of days in each month. For example, January’s production averaged 1.54 mbpd, and with 31 days in the month, the total production reached 47.74 million barrels.
February, with 28 days, saw daily production of 1.47 mbpd, translating into 41.16 million barrels for the month.
This method was applied consistently through October, taking into account the varying number of days per month.
Exports, on the other hand, remained closely aligned with production trends but consistently represented a significant proportion of total output.
January’s daily export averaged 1.09 mbpd, which over 31 days equals 33.79 million barrels shipped out. February exports of 1.02 mbpd over 28 days amounted to 28.56 million barrels, and the pattern continued through October.
Cumulatively, total exports over the 10 months reached approximately 306.7 million barrels, accounting for nearly 69 per cent of total production. This left roughly 137 million barrels available for the domestic market.
The monthly breakdown reveals both the production and export dynamics. Crude production started strong in January at 1.54 mbpd but declined to 1.40 mbpd in March before recovering modestly to 1.51 mbpd in June and July. The last three months of the period, August to October, saw production ease again, with September dipping to 1.39 mbpd and October stabilising at 1.40 mbpd.
Export volumes followed the same trend. Higher production months like June and July saw exports rise to 1.06 mbpd, while lower production months, such as March and September, recorded exports below 0.95 mbpd.
This imbalance between local consumption and exports exposes the tension among local refineries despite the domestic crude supply obligation. The Domestic Crude Supply Obligation is a Nigerian regulatory policy under the Petroleum Industry Act section 109, requiring upstream oil producers to allocate a portion of their crude production for local refining.
Enforced by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the DCSO mandates that producers prioritise domestic demand over exports to strengthen national energy security, reduce reliance on imported products, and boost local refining capacity.
However, refiners said the DCSO implementation has been hampered by the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ policy. While the country produces a significant quantity of crude, a majority of the output is directed to overseas markets. Domestic refiners, therefore, have to contend with limited allocations, forcing some plants to operate below capacity or delay operations.
It was observed that the shortfall does not stem from insufficient national production but from the seeming prioritisation of export revenue, which is seen as more lucrative due to dollar-denominated payments.
Energy
Nigeria’s First Energy Infrastructure Map for Unveiling at NOG 2026
In what is expected to provide investors and industry stakeholders with a detailed overview of Nigeria’s energy assets and opportunities, her first comprehensive Gas and Power Infrastructure Map will be unveiled at the 25th edition of NOG Energy Week.
It was gathered that the publication, developed by the Gas for Africa programme in partnership with NNPC Limited, will be launched during the annual energy conference in Abuja and is being positioned as a major step towards improving transparency and investment decision-making in Nigeria’s gas and power sectors.
Industry stakeholders have long cited the lack of consolidated and reliable infrastructure data as a major challenge to attracting investment into the sector. The new map seeks to address that gap by providing a single source of information on Nigeria’s gas and power infrastructure, including pipelines, gas processing facilities, power generation assets, LNG terminals and key transmission networks.
ALSO READ: Dangote Refinery Hits 700,000bpd Output, Eyes Global Leadership
Alongside the infrastructure map, organisers will also release a comprehensive report on Nigeria’s gas sector, which they describe as the most extensive industry intelligence publication ever produced on the country’s gas value chain.
The report examines developments in the sector since 2020 and covers key areas such as the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026, gas reserves and production trends, pipeline infrastructure, capacity challenges, compressed natural gas (CNG), piped natural gas (PNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets, gas-to-power projects and gas-based industrialisation.
According to the organisers, the publication provides an end-to-end assessment of Nigeria’s gas industry and offers critical insights for investors, policymakers and industry operators.
The launch comes at a time when global energy markets are undergoing significant shifts, driven by geopolitical tensions and increasing demand for alternative and secure energy supplies.
Organisers noted that Nigeria is strengthening its position as a major energy player, supported by rising crude oil production, implementation of a new Gas Master Plan and expanding refining capacity.
They said the infrastructure map and accompanying report are expected to help convert investor interest into concrete projects by providing accurate data on existing assets, infrastructure gaps and future opportunities across the sector.
Attendees at NOG Energy Week will be the first to access both publications as government officials, energy executives, investors and industry leaders gather in Abuja for the five-day event.
The conference is also expected to feature investment discussions, joint venture announcements, memorandum of understanding signings and project partnerships aimed at advancing Nigeria’s energy development agenda.
With preparations gathering momentum ahead of the event, organisers said NOG Energy Week 2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine the future of Nigeria’s energy sector and its role in Africa’s broader energy transition and industrial growth.
Energy
OPEC+ Increases Production Quotas for July
OPEC+ ministers decided Sunday to increase oil quotas by a total 188,000 barrels per day for July, in a move analysts said would be unlikely to have an impact on prices sent higher by the Mideast war.
Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad Energy, said ahead of the expected increase that it “means very little while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed”.
He added: “The market is not short of quota announcements; it is short of physical barrels that can actually move. In that sense, the 188,000 barrels per day increase would be more of a policy signal than a real supply boost.”
The hiked production output was agreed Sunday in a video meeting of oil ministers from key OPEC+ countries Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, a statement from the organisation said.
ALSO READ: Oil Sector Attracts $460,000 in Three Months – NBS
The increase was similar to ones decided in previous months.
The OPEC+ statement said the latest agreed hike was “to support oil market stability” but that the seven countries also saw an opportunity “to accelerate their compensation” in a time of historically high oil prices.
It added that the ministers “reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments announced in November 2023”.
Leon, at Rystad Energy, said that OPEC+ was wary in case the Mideast war changes, and Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz eases.
“When the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the market could move very quickly from fear of shortage to fear of surplus,” he said.
“Returning OPEC+ supply, a stronger US shale response and weaker demand after a period of very high prices could leave the market with a very large oversupply problem,” he said.
AFP
Energy
Nigeria, Algeria, Niger Back Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project
Nigeria, Algeria, and Niger have expressed joint commitment to the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project, which is set to significantly strengthen Africa’s regional energy security.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the disclosure on Thursday at the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the TSGP Steering Committee in Algiers.
The high-level session included ministerial delegations from the three participating nations and a strategic consultation with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the successful delivery of the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project, describing it as a landmark initiative that will redefine energy security across the continent.
ALSO READ: Dangote Refinery Hits 700,000bpd Output, Eyes Global Leadership
According to Ekpo, technical and commercial discussions are ongoing among stakeholders to reinforce the regulatory and financial frameworks required for the project’s implementation.
He noted that officials from the three countries have reviewed the latest feasibility reports and officially resolved that the project proceeds immediately into its next development phases.
“This project means a lot to the three countries in terms of industrialisation and job creation,” Ekpo asserted.
“We’ve talked about the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and the President of Algeria has expressed his interest in the completion of the project,” Ekpo said. “I assure him that on the part of Nigeria, we will do everything possible to ensure the project sees the light of day.”
The minister pledged to work closely with his counterparts in Algeria and Niger, as well as the respective national oil companies — including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Algeria’s Sonatrach — to accelerate project implementation.
On his part, President Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria’s full diplomatic and financial commitment to the pipeline.
He expressed confidence that with the robust political will demonstrated by the three governments, the pipeline will seamlessly move from planning to execution.
Tebboune noted that when completed, the transnational pipeline would deliver energy security, lucrative investment opportunities, and sustainable economic development for millions of people across Africa and European export markets.





