Nigeria’s Oil Output Reaches 454 Million Barrels in Nine Months Despite Operational Setbacks

Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production climbed to 454.28 million barrels between January and September 2025, according to the latest figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The report revealed that crude oil accounted for 399.81 million barrels, while condensates contributed 54.47 million barrels, representing about 12% of total output. This translates to an average daily production of 1.66 million barrels per day (mbpd), with crude averaging 1.46 mbpd and condensates adding 0.20 mbpd.

Production fluctuated throughout the nine month, peaking in January with 47.7 million barrels of crude oil, before dropping sharply to 41.02 million barrels in February due to operational disruptions. Output recovered between March and July, staying above the 50-million-barrel mark, but fell again in September to 41.69 million barrels. The NUPRC attributed the decline to labour union strikes and maintenance downtime, particularly during tensions with the Dangote Refinery. By September, Nigeria’s average daily crude output met 93% of its OPEC quota of 1.5 mbpd, marking a two-month streak of missed targets.

Data from major export terminals showed that Forcados Terminal led production with 67.1 million barrels, followed by Bonny (60.54m), Qua Iboe (40.66m), and Escravos (37.36m). Offshore production continued to dominate, with Shell’s Bonga Field contributing 32.89 million barrels, ExxonMobil’s Erha Field producing 18.93 million barrels, and TotalEnergies’ Egina Field adding 17.84 million barrels. Smaller onshore fields such as Okoro, Antan, and Otakpipo delivered steady volumes despite persistent theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta.

Condensate-rich fields continued to bolster Nigeria’s overall liquids production. Chevron’s Agbami Field produced 21.78 million barrels, TotalEnergies’ Akpo Field added 14.38 million barrels, and Tulja–Okweibome maintained a consistent monthly average of 280,000 barrels. These deepwater fields have been critical in offsetting losses from onshore disruptions and pipeline downtimes, reinforcing the growing importance of condensates to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon portfolio.

Energy experts say sustaining production above 1.6 mbpd will hinge on stronger pipeline security, field redevelopment, and full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The NNPC Limited recently reported that five key crude evacuation pipelines, including the Trans-Niger, Trans-Forcados, Trans-Escravos, Oando Brass, and Trans-Ramos, achieved 100% availability between May and June. However, NNPCL Group CEO Bayo Ojulari noted that despite progress in tackling vandalism, the nation’s output still falls short of the 2.02 mbpd target set in the 2025 budget, highlighting the urgent need for increased investment and operational stability in Nigeria’s oil sector.

source: punch