FG issues fresh petrol import permits

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The Federal Government, through its Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has approved fresh imports of petrol and diesel for the third quarter of 2026 (July – September) as authorities move to prevent potential supply shortages in the domestic market, according to a report by global energy intelligence firm Argus Media.

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The report published on Tuesday, which cited regulatory and industry sources, said the latest approvals were issued to major downstream operators amid declining fuel stock levels and concerns over reduced gasoline production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

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The move comes as Nigeria continues to balance increasing local refining capacity with the need to guarantee adequate supplies of petroleum products across the country.

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According to the Argus report, domestic firms including AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono Energy, Nipco, Matrix Energy and Pinnacle Oil received permits to import Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, during the July-September period.

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The publication further reported that the same companies, with the exception of Nipco, were granted approvals to import Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel. The fresh approvals follow an earlier batch of petrol import permits issued by the regulator in May, covering about 720,000 metric tonnes.

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Quoting a regulatory source, Argus reported that many of the companies granted the latest approvals were among those that had received permits in previous rounds. “These are some of the same ones that previously received the PMS permits,” the source was quoted as saying.

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According to sources cited by the publication, AA Rano and Matrix Energy each received approvals to import 180,000 metric tonnes of petrol. AYM Shafa received approval for 120,000 metric tonnes, while Pinnacle Oil received a permit covering 150,000 metric tonnes.

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For diesel imports, Argus reported that AYM Shafa obtained a permit for 60,000 metric tonnes, while Pinnacle secured approval for 45,000 metric tonnes. The report stated that the import approvals were issued only recently after being delayed from an initial target date of June 15.

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The report read, “The Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has issued clean product import permits for July to address supply shortages, according to sources. Domestic firms AA Rano, AYM Shafa, Bono, Nipco, Matrix and Pinnacle received gasoline import permits, while the same companies – minus Nipco – received gasoil import permits for the third quarter, sources said.

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“The recipients are some of the same ones that [previously] received the PMS [gasoline] permits,” according to a regulatory source. A regulatory source quoted by the publication said the permits were approved to forestall projected supply gaps in the country’s fuel market.

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“The permits were issued to head off projected shortfalls in supply”, the source said. “Issuance is still ongoing, so the final volume cannot be determined right now. But gasoline permits will likely be above 800,000T”, the source continued.

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If achieved, the projected volume would exceed the total quantity approved under the second-quarter import programme. The approvals come at a time when fuel inventories are showing signs of tightening.

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According to data referenced by Argus, petrol stock sufficiency in Nigeria declined by 1.7 days to 16 days in May, while diesel stock sufficiency dropped by eight days to 31 days during the same period. Such declines often prompt regulators to take precautionary measures to ensure uninterrupted supply across the country.

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The report linked the reduction in stock levels to lower gasoline production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos. According to figures cited by Argus, gasoline production at the refinery fell by 16 per cent to 44.7 million litres per day, while diesel production increased by four per cent to 24.5 million litres daily.

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Market participants quoted in the report attributed the drop in petrol output to maintenance activities on the refinery’s Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker, one of its major gasoline-producing units.

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Argus reported that a source close to the refinery described suggestions linking increased exports of low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil and the maintenance programme as “partially correct” but declined to provide additional details.

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The Dangote refinery did not respond to requests for comment, according to the publication. The report also noted that recent movements in international fuel prices could make imports more attractive to independent marketers.

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Argus said front-month Eurobob oxy swaps, increasingly used as the benchmark for gasoline trade in West Africa, averaged $946.25 per tonne in June, down from $1,128.50 per tonne during the corresponding period in May.

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Similarly, offshore Lomé ship-to-ship diesel prices averaged $1,093.50 per tonne in June, compared to $1,409.25 per tonne in May. The lower international prices are expected to improve import economics for marketers seeking to supplement domestic supply.

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Despite the availability of import permits, however, the report suggested that marketers may not fully utilise all approved volumes. According to preliminary vessel-tracking data from Kpler cited by Argus, independent marketers are expected to import about 354,000 metric tonnes of petrol during the current quarter.

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The figure is substantially lower than the 720,000 metric tonnes approved under the second-quarter permit programme. The sources attributed the gap partly to the timing of the approvals, noting that marketers had limited time to execute import plans because the permits were issued midway through the quarter.

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Meanwhile, the Dangote refinery is projected to import about 257,000 metric tonnes of gasoline during the current quarter, according to Kpler data referenced in the report.

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Although the refinery operates as a free zone enterprise and does not require import permits to bring in foreign products, it must obtain regulatory approval from the NMDPRA before imported cargoes can be discharged into the Nigerian market.

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The latest approvals underscore the continued role of imports in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain despite significant investments in domestic refining capacity.

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which began supplying refined products to the local market last year, has helped reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel. However, industry stakeholders maintain that imports remain necessary whenever local production falls short of demand or when refineries undergo maintenance.

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The NMDPRA has consistently maintained that import licences are issued only when required to guarantee energy security, maintain adequate stock levels and prevent fuel scarcity across the country.

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The latest approvals reflect the regulator’s efforts to ensure market stability while supporting the country’s transition towards greater reliance on locally refined petroleum products.

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