By Esther Onyegbula

THE Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, on Wednesday urged members of the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria, CORAN, to participate in upcoming oil block licensing rounds as part of measures to guarantee steady and affordable crude supply for domestic refineries.

The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, gave the advice during a courtesy visit by CORAN members to the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, where discussions centred on strengthening local refining capacity and ensuring sustainable crude supply.

Eyesan said greater participation of indigenous refiners in upstream asset ownership would provide a more stable and commercially viable framework for crude supply, while also deepening local content across Nigeria’s petroleum value chain.
According to her, “Participation in upstream assets offers refinery owners a strategic pathway to securing consistent and cost-effective feedstock for their operations.”

She assured operators that Nigeria has sufficient crude oil resources to meet domestic refining needs, stressing the Commission’s commitment to policies that prioritise in-country value addition.
Eyesan further advised refinery owners to adopt long-term crude supply contracts with producers, noting that such arrangements would enhance predictability, support operational planning and stabilise pricing.

She, however, identified infrastructure deficits as a major constraint to seamless crude supply across the country.
“Challenges such as inadequate pipeline networks, evacuation bottlenecks, limited storage capacity and marine logistics gaps must be urgently addressed through coordinated investments,” she said.

Earlier, members of CORAN commended the Commission for its ongoing regulatory reforms and support for domestic refining, but called for stronger implementation of frameworks that guarantee regular crude supply to local refineries.

They emphasised that improved access to crude feedstock remains critical to reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products, boosting energy security, conserving foreign exchange and creating jobs through expanded local refining capacity.

The meeting forms part of ongoing engagements between regulators and private refinery operators aimed at unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.