The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are to scale up action towards enforcing the domestic crude oil supply obligations as enshrined the Petroleum industry act 2021, in order to ensure adequate supply of crude oil to domestic refineries in Nigeria.
This came on the heels of the prevailing shortage of feedstocks to the modular refineries operating within the shores of the country and formed the basis a meeting between the regulators.
The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engr Gbenga Komolafe, represented by the Executive Commissioner Development and production, Mr. Enorense Amadasun during the meeting noted that, Nigeria as a country that produces about one point five million barrels per day, still finds it difficult to meetup with the daily crude requirements of local refinancing.
According to him, there is a need for crude oil producers to abide by the extant laws of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 hence the need for both NUPRC and NMDPRA to work towards full-scale implementation of all relevant sections of the PIA 2021.
While making reference to Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act, he cited that, the NUPRC shall base the allocation of the domestic crude oil supply obligation applicable to the respective lessees on the National Crude Oil demand requirement supply curve.
On their part, the delegation of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), led by the Authority’s Executive Director Hydrocarbon processing plant, installation and transportation infrastructure Mr. Francis Alabo, stressed that, the Authority has been steadfast in monitoring the activities of operators in the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum sub sector with emphasis on strict compliance with the PIA.
According to Mr. Alabo, as a matter of obligations, the NMDPRA will always ensure prompt submission of its reports on the operations of all the active modular refineries in to NUPRC as captured in the Petroleum industry act 2021.
At the end of the meeting, the two regulators assured of full implementation of all Domestic crude oil supply obligations by January 2024.
