The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says domestic refineries received more than 127 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil and condensate between January and September 2026, following regulatory interventions to resolve supply disputes between producers and refiners.
The commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed the figures in a speech delivered by the Assistant Director of Operations, Prosper Omonedo, at the 2026 OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos.
The commission said crude deliveries improved during the second and third quarters after commercial disagreements disrupted supplies in the first quarter of the year.
Eyesan said the regulator engaged producers and refiners to address the disputes and improve deliveries under the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO).
“We engaged producers and refiners, and in the second and third quarters, 53.7 and 45.1 million barrels of crude oil and condensate were supplied to domestic refineries, an overall performance of 97.4 and 76.2 per cent, respectively. From Q1–Q3 of 2026, more than 127 million barrels of Nigerian crude went to Nigerian refineries,” she said.
The commission’s Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, also announced the figures in a statement.
Supply disputes prompt regulatory intervention
The reported deliveries follow efforts by the NUPRC to resolve commercial disagreements that affected the supply of crude oil to local refineries in the first quarter.
Reliable access to feedstock remains essential to the operation of domestic refining facilities, particularly as Nigeria seeks to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products.
When crude deliveries are delayed or disrupted, refineries can face operational uncertainty, higher costs and difficulties maintaining consistent production schedules.
The regulator’s engagement with producers and refiners was intended to improve coordination and help ensure that domestic processing facilities receive crude under the applicable supply arrangements.
The figures reported for the second and third quarters suggest an improvement in deliveries, although the supplied account does not provide a complete quarterly breakdown for the first nine months.
NUPRC considers crude swap framework
Beyond improving deliveries, the commission is considering a domestic crude swap framework that could reduce transportation costs for local refiners.
Under the proposal, a refinery could receive crude from the nearest suitable production or export point instead of transporting its allocated crude grade over a longer distance.
The NUPRC estimates that the arrangement could reduce costs by between $3 and $4 per barrel, depending on the logistics and commercial terms involved.
The commission said it was consulting producers, refiners and other stakeholders on the proposed framework.
The initiative could be particularly relevant to refineries whose allocated crude grades are produced far from their facilities, resulting in additional transportation expenses.
However, its effectiveness would depend on the availability of suitable crude grades, the compatibility of supplies with refinery requirements and the commercial arrangements governing exchanges.
Domestic refining remains a strategic priority
The increase in crude deliveries comes as Nigeria seeks to expand domestic refining capacity and strengthen the supply of petroleum products from local facilities.
The Petroleum Industry Act provides a framework for domestic crude supply obligations, while the regulator has a role in overseeing compliance with the applicable provisions.
Consistent implementation will be important to balancing the requirements of local refiners with producers’ contractual obligations and export commitments.
The proposed crude swap arrangement could provide another mechanism for reducing logistics costs, but its final structure and implementation details will determine how much refiners ultimately save.
