The 650,000 barrels per day refinery, located near Lagos, has already received 9 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude from the US since the start of 2024 to supplement unreliable domestic supplies. The new tender, which closes on July 21, is for two million barrels per month of WTI Midland crude for six months starting in August.
The reliance on US crude highlights the challenges Nigeria faces in meeting its own refining needs, with crude theft, aging infrastructure, and underinvestment contributing to declining production. The nation pumped only 1.45 million barrels per day in April, well below its 2.6 million barrel per day capacity.
The refinery, a cornerstone of the country’s ambition to become a net exporter of petroleum products, has found it necessary to supplement domestic supply with imports to meet its operational needs.
