Nigeria’s petrol imports surge to 2.3 billion litres despite Port Harcourt refinery operation

Nigeria’s petrol imports have climbed to 2.3 billion litres between September 11 and December 5, 2024, despite the operational commencement of the Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries, according to data from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

This development highlights the country’s continued reliance on imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) even as domestic refining capacity increases. Both the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery and the Port Harcourt Refinery, which began operations on September 15 and November 26, respectively, were expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on imports.

Despite assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and independent oil marketers to phase out imports, recent data shows significant volumes of petrol arriving at Nigerian ports.

In the last three days alone, approximately 68.74 million litres of PMS were imported into the country through three vessels. These vessels docked at the Apapa Port, Tin Can Port in Lagos, and the Calabar Port in Cross River.

On Tuesday, December 3, a ship named Binta Saleh delivered 12,000 metric tonnes (15.86 million litres) of petrol to Apapa Port. This was followed by the arrival of Shamal on December 4, offloading 20,000 metric tonnes (26.44 million litres) at Tin Can Port. Another vessel, Watson, is scheduled to berth today, December 5, at the Calabar Port, carrying an additional 20,000 metric tonnes (26.44 million litres).

These shipments continue even after the Federal Government’s October 11, 2024 directive allowing marketers to lift petrol directly from the Dangote Refinery, ending the NNPCL’s role as the sole off-taker of the refinery’s output.

Industry analysts suggest the imports might stem from logistical challenges or gaps in domestic production capacity. Nonetheless, the rising import numbers cast a shadow over Nigeria’s efforts to achieve fuel self-sufficiency and reduce the economic burden of petrol imports.