-
The NUPRC says Dangote Refinery rejected about 15.5 million barrels of crude offered by producers in Q2 2026.
-
The regulator reported that producers offered 68.1 million barrels, but the refinery accepted 52.6 million barrels.
-
Dangote disputed the figures and challenged the NUPRC to provide statistics supporting its claim.
-
The dispute comes as Nigeria recorded 97.4% overall compliance with its domestic crude supply obligation during the quarter.
August 11, (THEWILL) — The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have disagreed over the volume of crude oil supplied to the refinery in the second quarter of 2026, with the regulator claiming the facility rejected about 15.5 million barrels offered by producers.
The NUPRC, in its Q2 2026 report on compliance with the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), said producers offered 68.1 million barrels of crude to the refinery between April and June, but only 52.6 million barrels were accepted.
The commission said the refinery had indicated a requirement for 63 million barrels during the quarter, meaning the volume offered by producers exceeded its stated requirement.
“At the level of refinery participation, the statistics show that the Dangote Refinery required 63 million barrels in Q2, but the producers offered higher volumes of 68.1 million barrels,” the NUPRC said.
“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.”
However, the refinery rejected the claim and demanded evidence from the regulator showing when the alleged crude deliveries were offered and rejected.
Dangote spokesman Anthony Chiejina said the company would compare the NUPRC’s figures with its own records if the regulator provided the underlying data.
“Let them show us the statistics, we’ll now compare and check, and then we’ll come back to you,” Chiejina said.
Nigeria Records 97.4% Domestic Crude Supply Compliance
Under the DCSO provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, oil producers are required to make crude available to domestic refineries. However, the NUPRC said the framework operates on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis, which influences the volume ultimately supplied.
Monthly figures showed significant variations in supply. In April, producers were allocated 18.13 million barrels and offered 19.31 million barrels to local refiners, while actual supply reached 20.88 million barrels, representing 114.9 per cent performance against allocation.
In May, producers were allocated 18.78 million barrels and offered 23.19 million barrels, but actual supply fell to 14.23 million barrels, equivalent to 75.8 per cent compliance.
June recorded an improvement, with producers allocated 18.17 million barrels and offering 26.84 million barrels. Refiners took 18.61 million barrels, representing 102.4 per cent performance against allocation.
The NUPRC attributed the improvement in domestic crude supply to higher local oil production and the emergence of longer-term crude supply agreements between producers and domestic refiners.
The regulator said it would continue enforcing the DCSO as part of efforts to support domestic refining and the Federal Government’s broader energy sufficiency objectives.
The competing accounts over the Dangote refinery’s crude intake, however, leave the actual volume of crude offered and rejected during the quarter subject to further verification.
Segun Adeyemi serves as the Associate Editor of THEWILL Newspaper, leveraging more than ten years of editorial expertise and a proven track record in mainstream journalism.
