The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have disagreed over the volume of crude oil offered to the refinery by producers in the second quarter of 2026.
The NUPRC said oil producers offered 68.1 million barrels of crude to the Dangote refinery between April and June, but only 52.6 million barrels were accepted.
The figures suggest that about 15.5 million barrels of the crude offered were not taken by the refinery.
However, the Dangote refinery has challenged the claim, demanding that the regulator provide detailed statistics to substantiate its position.
The NUPRC disclosed the figures in its second-quarter 2026 report on the enforcement of the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), released on Monday.
According to the commission, the Dangote refinery had indicated a requirement for 63 million barrels during the quarter, but producers offered a higher volume of 68.1 million barrels.
The regulator said the volume offered to Dangote represented 98 per cent of the total crude volumes offered by producers to domestic refiners during the period.
“Eventually, 52.6 million barrels were accepted by the Dangote refinery. This implies that the refinery only accepted 78 per cent of what it was offered,” the NUPRC stated.
NUPRC reports 97.4% DCSO performance
The figures formed part of the commission’s assessment of compliance with the DCSO, a framework under the Petroleum Industry Act requiring oil producers to make crude available to domestic refineries.
In a statement by its spokesman, Eniola Akinkuotu, the NUPRC said a total of 53.7 million barrels of crude oil and condensate were supplied to local refineries between April and June.
The commission said the figure represented an overall DCSO performance rate of 97.4 per cent.
It added that the DCSO framework was being actively administered and enforced through monthly consultations with crude producers and licensed domestic refineries.
The regulator, however, noted that the framework operates on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act, which influences the final volumes supplied and received.
April records 114.9% performance
The NUPRC said oil producers were allocated 18.13 million barrels in April, while 19.31 million barrels were offered to local refiners.
Actual supply, however, stood at 20.88 million barrels, representing 114.9 per cent performance against the allocated volume.
In May, producers received an allocation of 18.78 million barrels and offered 23.19 million barrels to domestic refiners.
Actual supply dropped to 14.23 million barrels during the month, representing 75.8 per cent compliance.
In June, producers were allocated 18.17 million barrels and offered 26.84 million barrels to local refiners.
The refiners ultimately received 18.61 million barrels, translating to 102.4 per cent performance against the allocation.
NUPRC attributes improvement to higher production
The upstream regulator attributed the improvement in domestic crude supply compliance to increased local oil production and the signing of long-term crude supply agreements between producers and domestic refiners.
It said the agreements were supported by bankable sales and purchase arrangements, which helped strengthen crude supply to local refineries.
“The commission observed that the improvement in DCSO coincided with an increase in local oil production and the signing of the long-term crude supply agreement supported by bankable sales and purchase agreements between the producers and domestic refiners,” it stated.
The NUPRC reaffirmed its commitment to the Federal Government’s objective of achieving energy sufficiency and said it would continue enforcing the DCSO framework while supporting efforts to sustain recent gains in domestic crude production.
Dangote demands evidence
Reacting to the NUPRC’s claim that 68.1 million barrels were offered to the Dangote refinery and 52.6 million barrels accepted, the refinery’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, called for evidence.
“Let them show us the statistics, we’ll now compare and check, and then we’ll come back to you. That’s all,” Chiejina said.
He questioned the basis for the regulator’s figures, insisting that the refinery needed to see the specific data and period covered before responding.
“Because they can’t just by word of mouth tell you, ‘Oh, we give this to Dangote’. It’s crude, it’s not pepper,” he said.
Chiejina added that if the NUPRC provided the relevant statistics, the refinery would compare them with its records.
“If they have the statistics, let them send it to us and the period it was done, then I will now come back to you to match it. That’s all,” he said.
The disagreement comes amid increased efforts by the Federal Government and regulators to ensure that domestic refineries have adequate access to locally produced crude as Nigeria seeks to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
