NMDPRA Refined Fuel Conference To Boost West Africa’s Energy Market Integration

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) is set to enhance regional collaboration and boost integration of the West African energy market, focusing on refining, trading, and market harmonisation of petroleum products across the sub-region during a two-day conference to be held next week.

The NMDPRA said that the West African Refined Fuel Conference scheduled from July 22 to July 23, 2025, in Abuja, in partnership with S&P Global Commodity Insights, aims to provide a foundational platform for exploring the potential development of West African reference market for refined fuels focusing on regional standardisation, pricing mechanisms, data transparency, stakeholder collaboration, market fundamentals and participation, expansion of in-country refining capacity and infrastructure development.

“A major focus will be placed on developing frameworks for data transparency, standardisation, and cross-border collaboration for building a robust and reliable pricing reference mechanism in West Africa,” the Authority said in a statement signed by the  director, Public Affairs Department, George Ene-Ita.

According to the midstream and downstream oil and gas sector regulator, in addition to these goals, the Conference will foster conversations around the regulatory, operational, and infrastructural requirements necessary for developing an integrated market. It is expected to bring together key stakeholders from across the energy value chain including regulators, ministries of petroleum/energy across Africa, regional organisations, national and international oil companies and private refiners.

Other stakeholders are depot and terminal operators, African oil and gas associations, financial institutions, multilateral organisations, Oil & Gas traders, marketing companies, ship owners and marine service providers.

“The Platform will also be used to initiate discussions on aligning national policies across West African countries to support the emergence of a cohesive and resilient regional fuel market, marking the beginning of a new era of regional energy cooperation and market evolution,” the NMDPRA said.