Nigeria has imported crude oil from Libya for the first time on record, as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to diversify its feedstock sources amid persistent shortages of locally supplied crude.
According to data published by the Energy Research Unit and reported by Libya Review, Nigeria imported an average of 64,500 barrels of Libyan crude per day in May 2026, equivalent to about two million barrels for the month.
The shipment represents the first recorded import of Libyan crude into Nigeria since available records began in 2013.
The development comes despite Nigeria being one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers and exporters, with local refiners repeatedly raising concerns over inadequate domestic crude supply.
Industry observers believe the imported cargo was destined for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has continued to source crude from multiple international markets to support its growing refining operations.
In 2024, reports emerged that the refinery was negotiating with Libya for crude oil supplies.
However, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) denied holding talks with any Nigerian refinery at the time, insisting it remained committed to its existing contractual obligations and established crude marketing procedures.
The corporation also stated that crude oil pricing was determined through a committee of experts and approved by both the NOC and Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas.
The latest shipment suggests that supply arrangements have now been concluded, allowing Libyan crude to enter the Nigerian market.
The Dangote refinery, which is ramping up production towards its installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day while pursuing further expansion plans, has increasingly relied on imported crude to supplement domestic supplies.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, the refinery has imported several grades of crude oil in 2026, including Cabinda and Saxi Batuque from Angola, Jubilee crude from Ghana, as well as crude from Guyana, Libya and, more recently, the United Arab Emirates.
Most of these imports consist of light and medium sweet crude grades that are suitable for the refinery’s operations.
The growing dependence on imported crude comes as Nigeria continues to export a substantial share of its domestic crude production.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that the country exported approximately 148.9 million barrels of crude oil valued at about N20.22 trillion between January and May 2026.
During the same period, Nigeria produced about 216.85 million barrels of crude oil.
This means that roughly 68.7 per cent of total crude production was exported, leaving approximately 67.95 million barrels available for domestic refining, operational requirements, storage and inventory.
The exports were undertaken by both international oil companies, indigenous producers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited).
Local refiners have consistently argued that the high level of crude exports has limited the availability of feedstock for domestic refining despite the government’s Domestic Crude Supply Obligation policy.
Meanwhile, international oil markets continue to adjust to supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions, including the United States-Iran conflict, which has affected energy shipments through parts of the Gulf region.
The changing market dynamics have created new opportunities for Libyan crude to expand its presence across Africa and Europe.
Egypt resumed imports of Libyan crude in 2026, purchasing approximately 33,000 barrels per day in April after importing 57,000 barrels per day in February.
The imports formed part of Egypt’s efforts to diversify crude supply sources following agreements to purchase more than one million barrels of Libyan crude monthly.
Tunisia also increased its purchases of Libyan crude during the year, while Italy remained Libya’s largest export destination, importing about 348,000 barrels per day in May.
Other major buyers of Libyan crude include Greece, Spain and Turkey.
In a separate development, the Dangote refinery recently acquired two cargoes of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, marking its first-ever purchase from the Middle East.
The transaction signals the refinery’s continued strategy of diversifying crude supply sources as it seeks to maintain stable operations amid ongoing domestic supply constraints.
