Lokpobiri: Nigeria’s Refining Expansion to Power West Africa’s Energy Security
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, says the country’s growing refining capacity will position it as West Africa’s main supplier of petroleum products and reduce the region’s dependence on imports.
Delivering the keynote address at the CORAN Summit in Lagos, themed “Refining – Key to Energy Security in Africa,” Lokpobiri said ongoing investments such as Dangote Refinery, Waltersmith Refinery, and Aradel Holdings show that Nigerians possess both the capacity and determination to refine crude oil locally.
“These projects reflect confidence in our policies,” he said, assuring that the government would replicate similar models in all oil-producing states.
The minister noted that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has simplified licensing and strengthened the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DSCO) to guarantee feedstock for refiners.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has also launched the West African Fuel Reference Market to establish Nigeria as a regional supply hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“With increased refining capacity, Nigeria will not only meet its domestic fuel demand but also serve as a dependable supplier to neighbouring nations,” Lokpobiri said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting indigenous refiners, strengthening institutions, and tackling crude theft and pipeline vandalism. “The path to Africa’s energy security,” he stated, “runs through the gates of its refineries.”
