Home shortfall: NNPC, entrepreneurs import 633m litres of gas

The Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted and different entrepreneurs within the downstream oil sector imported greater than 633 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gasoline Oil (diesel) in January 2025 regardless of the manufacturing of those commodities domestically.

The most recent trade knowledge on the importation of PMS and AGO by these companies indicated that they introduced in over 458 million litres of petrol and 174 million litres of diesel through the lower than one-month length.

Though some sellers mentioned the transfer was to bridge home gas shortages, others argued that the $20bn Lekki-based Dangote Petroleum Refinery might meet the nation’s refined petroleum merchandise calls for.

The transfer signifies a continued reliance on imports, even because the nation goals to spice up home refining capability and scale back dependency on imported gas, an element that has contributed to the devaluation of the naira.

Additionally it is in distinction to earlier public declarations by entrepreneurs to prioritise home provide following the inauguration of three main refineries.

A doc detailing the quantity of gas imported into the nation obtained by our correspondent on Thursday confirmed that the NNPCL introduced within the highest quantity totalling 158,740 metric tonnes of petrol.

Going by the conversion fee of 1,341 litres to 1 metric tonne, it, subsequently, implies that the oil agency introduced in about 212.87 million litres of petrol between January 1 and 29, 2025.

The nationwide oil agency additionally imported 62,866 MT of diesel into the nation inside the identical interval. The quantity represents a complete of 120.1m litres when transformed to litres.

The state of affairs described by oil and fuel specialists as baffling and surprising, is in opposition to the backdrop of the extensively publicised operational graduation of the 210,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt refinery and the 125,000 barrels per day Warri refinery by the NNPCL, making a mixed capability of 335,000 barrels per day.

It raises questions in regards to the effectiveness of those amenities in attaining self-sufficiency.

On November 26, 2024, the federal government introduced that petrol manufacturing had commenced on the Port Harcourt refinery after a protracted interval of rehabilitation.

Through the unveiling of the refinery, NNPC officers carried out stakeholders across the facility the place they took samples of petrol, diesel, and kerosene.

It mentioned truck loading started instantly. The Port Harcourt refinery contains two items, with the previous plant having a refining capability of 60,000 barrels per day and the brand new plant 150,000bpd, each summing as much as 210,000bpd.

Throughout the house of a month, the NNPCL additionally introduced that the Warri refinery had commenced operation after a protracted interval of inactivity.

“WRPC will concentrate on producing and storing important merchandise, together with Straight Run Kerosene, Automotive Gasoline Oil, and heavy and lightweight Naphtha,” an announcement from the presidency acknowledged.

The graduation of refinery operations prompted stakeholders, together with oil entrepreneurs to decide to halting the importation of petroleum merchandise.

Nevertheless, the nationwide oil agency in a dramatic twist of occasions has continued the importation of gas.

Additional evaluation of the newest doc by our correspondent confirmed that the corporate imported the merchandise by 9 vessels delivered on the Apapa and Tin Can ports in Lagos State and the Calabar port in Cross Rivers State.

The doc acknowledged that the primary consignment, which arrived on Friday, January 10, carried 15,000 metric tonnes of petrol, equal to twenty.12 million litres, and docked on the Calabar port.

One other vessel obtained by the NNPCL on January 16, 2025, berthed on the Calabar port with a load of 15,000 metric tonnes.

On the Lagos ports, vessels conveying merchandise had been obtained on January 13, 22 and 27 carrying a complete of 128,740 metric tonnes, amounting to 172.64m litres.

For diesel, the nationwide oil agency was the recipient of three vessels that berthed  on the Lagos ports on January 9 and 16, carrying a complete of 62,866 metric tonnes representing 74.81m litres

Equally, main entrepreneurs resembling Bovas, A.A. Rano, Matrix, Raj, and AYM Shafa have continued their importation actions, collectively bringing in a complete of 246.02 million litres of petrol and 99.96m of diesel.

Different entrepreneurs embrace Chipet Oil, MenJ, WosbasB, Shorelink, Prudent, Prado.

These entrepreneurs landed their merchandise on the Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri ports for onward distribution and supply to its filling stations.

Matrix was the very best quantity importer and introduced in 126.89m litres of gas.

Reacting, the Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the Unbiased Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, acknowledged that Port Harcourt continues to be working at a skeletal degree regardless of commencing operations two months in the past.

He mentioned the refinery is but to attain optimum manufacturing regardless of guarantees by NNPCL officers.

 He mentioned, “There was a time at a gathering the place the GCEO of the NNPC, and the NMDPRA met and so they mentioned they aren’t going to patronise imports once more. They’ll encourage native refining. However product offtake from the Port Harcourt refinery continues to be skeletal for now.

“It’s skeletal for now as a result of the chief govt officer of NNPC mentioned that they haven’t reached the final word degree which they’re making an attempt to achieve.

“So as soon as they attain the final word degree, the product can be available. However that won’t make them not to have the ability to supply petroleum merchandise from different locations to maintain their very own retailers.”