Nigerian Fuel Meets 50ppm Spec, Higher Quality Than Some Imports —NMDPRA

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said all fuel produced and exported from Nigeria meets the 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur specification, adding that the country’s products are of higher quality than some imports into the sub-region.

The statement was made by the Chief Executive of NMDPRA and Chairman of the West Africa Regulator Forum (WARF), Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, as part of preparations for the 2nd Edition of the West Africa Refined Fuel Conference, scheduled for 11 and 12 August in Abuja.

Speaking on the issue of product specification across African countries, Umar said work was ongoing through ECOWAS and the Africa Refiners Association to harmonise standards so that petroleum products can move more easily across the continent.

He noted that Nigeria does not produce fuel above the 50ppm sulphur limit, stressing that whatever the country exports is on specification and of a higher quality than some products brought in from other parts of West Africa.

“Nigeria doesn’t produce anything above 50ppm, to the best of my knowledge,” he said. “Whatever we have produced in terms of what we are able to export is on spec. And I would say it’s even of a higher quality than what some of the countries are bringing from – I mean, in West Africa, you have people bringing up to 200ppm. Nigeria doesn’t do anything above 50ppm. I can say that confidently.”

Umar said the push for harmonised specifications is one of the key issues that will be discussed at the upcoming conference, which is being organised in collaboration with S&P Global Commodity Insights and WARF under the theme: “Funding West Africa Infrastructure & Distribution to Create a Transparent Market for Regional Price Benchmarks”.

He explained that once a common standard is reached across the region, it will become easier for refiners to move products from one country to another, thereby supporting the creation of a more integrated West African fuel market.

The NMDPRA chief also pointed to the role of the Dangote Refinery in stabilising local supply and supporting neighbouring countries. He said the facility has helped reduce supply disruptions and has enabled Nigeria to export products to some West African markets.

“We have seen, even with the Hormuz crisis, how that has stabilised the local country and production, or if you like, supply into the local market,” he said. “And we have also seen in the same breath how that has helped some of my neighbouring countries to be able to have a product go into those areas.”

Umar said the situation showed that the regional conversation was evolving, adding that there is still room for deeper collaboration and integration across West Africa.

He said the August conference is expected to build on gains recorded since the inaugural meeting in July 2025, including the constitution of WARF, the publication of West African reference prices and the establishment of the S&P Global Commodity Insights regional office in Abuja.

According to him, the event will focus on funding for infrastructure and distribution systems that can support a transparent market for regional price benchmarks, as well as on market dynamics, emerging opportunities and the infrastructure gaps that continue to limit the growth of Africa’s refining and downstream sector.

He said regulators have a central role to play in creating the right environment for fair competition, market transparency, consumer protection and regional cooperation, and must also work to harmonise standards and remove barriers that make cross-border trade difficult.

Umar said reliable market data would also be a major issue at the conference, as it is essential for transparent pricing, informed investment decisions and evidence-based regulation.

He added that the expected outcomes include new investment partnerships, stronger collaboration among regulators, infrastructure financing initiatives, improved regional cooperation, policy recommendations and roadmaps for logistics and trading infrastructure.

The NMDPRA chief said West Africa represents one of the fastest-growing energy markets, with expanding refining capacity, increasing demand and a strategic geographic position that could support a major regional market.

He said better infrastructure, stronger logistics, regional storage capacity and deeper market integration would improve supply resilience and reduce the region’s vulnerability to disruptions.

The August conference in Abuja is expected to serve as a key platform for regulators and market players to discuss how West Africa can build its own pricing benchmark and strengthen the infrastructure needed to support a competitive energy market, with Nigeria’s 50ppm fuel standard cited as a reference point for quality and specification.