ABUJA, Nigeria – The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has accused oil producers of diverting 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil meant for domestic refineries to foreign markets.
PETROAN’s Publicity Secretary, Joseph Obele, stated that this practice has severely impacted local refining operations, leaving many refineries struggling to operate due to feedstock shortages.
“Approximately 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day are allocated for domestic refining, but these volumes often find their way to the international market,” Obele said.
PETROAN welcomed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) recent ban on the export of crude designated for local refining, calling for strict enforcement.
The NUPRC had mandated compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, warning that violators would face export permit denials.
The commission plans to monitor compliance through regular engagements with upstream operators.
