TheCable

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it will soon issue a fully valid operating licence to Dangote refinery.

Farouk Ahmed, NMDPRA’s chief executive officer (CEO), disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ consultation forum themed, ‘Midstream and petroleum host community development trust regulations’.

Ahmed, who was represented by Ogbugo Ukoha, the commission’s executive director, distribution systems, storage and retailing infrastructure, said only three refineries presently have valid licences to operate in the country.

“We have issued three refineries with valid licences. We awarded to Dangote Refinery even in their pre-commissioning and sooner than later they will have full commission and a valid license to also operate,” he said.

Ahmed said only about 15 gas facilities in the country have active licences and 1,199 facilities have valid licences in the downstream sector — the majority of which are undergoing processing.

“In the gas processing facility, within the midstream, there are about 15 of them with valid licences. And much are under processing,” the NMDPRA boss said.

“If you go to the downstream, in the gas state of the downstream, there are facilities more than 1,199 facilities with NMDPRA valid licences.

“More than 176 operators hold gas import permits. In the liquid licencing side of the downstream, there are 130 depots with valid licences, coastal vessels of more than 69 valid licences as at today. And in the retail outlets, we have 9,464 licenced retail outlets as at 10:00 am today 30th April.” 

Meanwhile, the plant commenced operations with the production of diesel and aviation fuel on January 12 — after receiving six shipments of crude.