The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has finally acknowledged that its substantial debt to international oil traders is a major factor behind the ongoing fuel scarcity plaguing the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye confirmed reports linking the fuel shortages to supply disruptions caused by the corporation’s outstanding debt obligations to these traders.
“NNPC Ltd. has acknowledged recent reports in national newspapers regarding the company’s significant debt to petrol suppliers. This financial strain has placed considerable pressure on the company and poses a threat to the sustainability of fuel supply,” he said.
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However, Soneye stated that NNPC remains committed to its role as the supplier of last resort, ensuring national energy security in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“In line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC Ltd. remains dedicated to its role as the supplier of last resort, ensuring national energy security. We are actively collaborating with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to maintain a consistent supply of petroleum products nationwide,” Soneye added.
Although NNPC has admitted to the situation, the corporation did not disclose the exact amount owed.
Energy expert Kelvin Emmanuel disclosed in August that NNPC’s debt to oil suppliers stands at approximately $6.8 billion, primarily in subsidy-related debts. This massive debt has made it increasingly difficult for the corporation to secure the imported petrol products necessary to meet national demand.
Emmanuel further explained that NNPC’s financial woes have prevented it from remitting funds to the Federation Account since January 2023, in what appears to be a violation of the PIA. According to section 64(c) of the Act, NNPC is obligated to remit 70% of sales from crude oil to the Federation Account, retain 20% as earnings, and allocate 10% to the frontier basin exploration fund.
“NNPC has not remitted money to the Federation Account since January in line with sections 64(c) of the PIA that obligates it to remit 70% of sales from crude oil to the Federation Account, and keep 20% as retained earnings and 10% as allocation to frontier basin exploration fund,” Emmanuel explained.
He also revealed that the company has been seeking to borrow $2 billion from Standard Chartered, using a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) tied to a 35,000 barrels-per-day well as collateral to pay down part of the $6.8 billion debt.
“Like I mentioned last month, the proposed $2 billion loan SC is doing bookrunning for (that was going to tie a PSC well in 35k barrels per day in repayment) was to draw down on this outstanding,” Emmanuel stated.
He questioned the rationale behind borrowing fresh loans to repay existing debts, adding, “Please explain to me how any sensible person is borrowing fresh loans to draw down principal on existing loans?”
However, amid rising concerns and public scrutiny, the NNPC issued a statement on August 18 denying that it owed $6.8 billion to any international trader. The company clarified that in the oil trading business, transactions are commonly conducted on credit, making it normal to owe at one point or another.
“That NNPC Ltd. does not owe the sum of $6.8bn to any international trader(s). In the oil trading business, transactions are carried out on credit, and so it is normal to owe at one point or the other,” the NNPC stated. The corporation also noted that its subsidiary, NNPC Trading, maintains numerous open trade credit lines with several traders and pays its obligations on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis,” it said.
“It is not correct to say that NNPC Ltd. has not remitted any money to the Federation Account since January. NNPC Ltd. and all its subsidiaries remit their taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) regularly. This is in addition to payments of CIT to road contractors under the Road Investment Tax Credit Scheme. In all, NNPC Ltd. is the largest contributor to the tax revenue shared every month at the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC),” the statement added.
This acknowledgment follows a report by Vanguard, which cited industry sources indicating that NNPC, as the sole importer of petrol, using supply agents, is burdened by over $6 billion in debt that has accumulated over time. The corporation’s failure to settle these debts has led to significant supply disruptions, contributing to the current fuel scarcity across the country.
The fuel scarcity across the country has intensified, with petrol prices soaring to between N840 and N1,200 per liter at various locations. This situation has raised concerns that the corporation may no longer be able to maintain a fixed price for petrol following the removal of the subsidy on May 29, 2023.
Against this backdrop, there are growing indications that the NNPC might seek financial relief from the federal government, possibly in the form of a reintroduced subsidy, to manage its mounting debt and stabilize fuel supplies. While NNPC has not confirmed such a move, its recent statements suggest that government intervention may be necessary to help the corporation settle some of its obligations to international oil traders.
“The way I see it, NNPC and Independent marketers will have no choice but to offtake PMS from Dangote Refinery this month, less the fuel scarcity will continue,” Emmanuel remarked, hinting at the potential reliance on the new refinery to address the ongoing fuel shortage.