THE Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria’s oil output, excluding condensate, rose month-on-month, MoM, by 4 per cent to 1.28 million barrels per day, bpd, in April 2024, from 1.23 million bpd in March 2024.
But on a year-on-year- YoY basis, OPEC disclosed that the nation’s output rose to 1.28 million bpd in April 2024, from 999,000 bpd in the corresponding period of 2023, indicating an increase of 28 per cent.
In its recent report obtained by Vanguard, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, presented a similar report, stating that Nigeria’s crude oil output in April rose marginally by four percent to 1.28 million bpd compared to 1.23 million bpd recorded in March 2024.
However, in its latest May Monthly Oil Market Report, MOMR, obtained by Vanguard, OPEC also put Nigeria’s oil output, excluding condensate during the period at 1.28 million bpd, based on information obtained from official sources.
But when information obtained from secondary sources is considered, OPEC maintained that Nigeria produced 1.35 million bpd in April 2024, indicating 3.6 per cent drop from 1.40 million bpd in the preceding month of March.
The report, which noted the output drop in some nations, including Nigeria, stated: “According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged 26.58 mb/d in April 2024, 48 tb/d lower, m-o-m. Crude oil output increased mainly in Congo and IR Iran, while production in Nigeria, Iraq and Venezuela decreased.
“At the same time, total non-OPEC DoC crude oil production averaged 14.44 mb/d in April 2024, 198 tb/d lower, m-o-m. Crude oil output increased mainly in Bahrain, while production in Russia and Kazakhstan decreased.”
This showed that despite the battle against pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal refining, Nigeria’s output that was benchmarked at 1.70 million bpd, including condensate and $77.96 per barrel in the nation’s 2024 budget, remains relatively low.
Meanwhile, the price of the nation’s Bonny Light has dropped to $83.51 per barrel, from $90 per barrel, recorded last month, in the global oil market.
With increasing oil theft and oil pollution, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, said: “The people are partly involved in getting crude oil for illegal refining. After the refining, they throw the rest into the river.
“By the law, the Federal Government owns the water and land resources. So, everyone should join hands with the government to fight this menace.
“No matter the proceeds gotten from the illegal refining, it cannot be enough for the people and communities. Those perpetrating the act should desist.”
He said: “President Bola Tinubu will continue to support all Nigerians in the diaspora, including the ljaw people because we occupy a strategic position in the country. Oil remains the backbone of our economy because it accounts for at least 90 per cent of forex.”
