DIESEL IMPORTS RISE AS MODULAR REFINERIES STRUGGLE

Nigeria imported 244.9 million litres of diesel in July 2026 as production from modular refineries remained relatively low, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The NMDPRA figures showed that oil marketing companies imported the diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, during the month, while domestic refineries supplied 486.7 million litres.

Total diesel supply stood at about 731.6 million litres in July, representing an average of 23.6 million litres daily. Modular refineries contributed only 18.35 million litres, accounting for about 2.5 per cent of total supply.

WalterSmith recorded the highest average daily supply among the modular refineries at 341,000 litres, while Aradel supplied 144,000 litres per day. Edo Refinery recorded an average of 107,000 litres daily and operated at the highest capacity utilisation among the listed plants.

OPAC supplied about 7,000 litres per day, while Duport Refinery was listed as shut down during the period.

The figures also showed that the three refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited recorded no production in July.

The Crude Oil Refinery Association of Nigeria attributed the weak performance of modular refineries partly to inadequate crude feedstock. The association said the plants could contribute a larger share of domestic diesel demand if sufficient crude was made available.

The development highlights the continued reliance on imported diesel despite efforts to expand local refining capacity.