Nigeria’s crude oil production declined to 1.56 million barrels per day (mbpd) in October, marking a 0.65% drop from the previous month, according to a report by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). This decrease comes after two consecutive months of increasing production. The report highlights challenges such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and frequent shut-ins affecting the country’s oil output. The decline in crude oil production could impact Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and efforts to stabilize the naira.
Key Points:
- Production Decline:
- Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped to 1.56 million barrels per day in October, reflecting a 0.65% decrease from the preceding month.
- The production had reached a high of 1.57 mbpd in September.
- NUPRC Report:
- The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) report covers crude oil, blended and unblended condensate.
- The average crude oil production for October was 1.35 mbpd, with blended and unblended condensate at 48,461 and 163,038 bpd, respectively.
- Challenges Impacting Production:
- Oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and frequent shut-ins are identified as factors continuing to impact Nigeria’s crude oil production.
- These challenges have been a persistent issue, affecting the country’s output.
- National Emergency:
- Ogbonnaya Orji, executive secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), emphasizes that crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism have become a national emergency.
- Losses from crude oil theft and vandalism are significant, totaling 619.7 million barrels valued at $46.16 billion between 2009 and 2020.
- Security Solutions:
- Strengthening security around the country’s oil and gas pipeline system is highlighted as a key solution to address crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
- The restoration of investor confidence and trust in the oil and gas industry is emphasized.
- Industry Calls for Advanced Technology:
- Emeka Okwuosa, chairman/group CEO at Oilserv Group, advocates for the inclusion of advanced technology to secure crude oil pipelines across Nigeria.
- The use of advanced technology is seen as crucial for monitoring pipelines and addressing security and employment concerns.
Conclusion:
Nigeria’s crude oil production declined in October, posing challenges to the government’s objectives of increasing foreign exchange earnings and stabilizing the naira. Persistent issues such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and shutdowns have contributed to the drop in production. The report underscores the significance of addressing these challenges through enhanced security measures and the inclusion of advanced technology in monitoring and securing oil pipelines. The impact of these developments on the country’s economic growth and the oil and gas industry’s role in government revenue and foreign exchange earnings is highlighted.
