By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has called for the creation of a regional oil pricing benchmark for West Africa.

The aim is to reflect the region’s unique market dynamics and reduce dependence on foreign pricing templates.

Mr Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive, made the call in Abuja at the inaugural Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel.

The event was convened by NMDPRA in collaboration with S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Ahmed warned that continued reliance on international benchmarks could hinder the development of a robust and self-sufficient regional energy market.

“In spite of being a significant producer of hydrocarbon resources and a growing hub for refining, West Africa still depends on posted prices from global reference markets for its trading activities.

“These include benchmarks from regions such as Northwest Europe, the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Mediterranean, Singapore, and the Arab Gulf.

“While these benchmarks are globally accepted, they often do not reflect the supply chain peculiarities and economic realities of the African continent,” he said.

He said the creation of a regional pricing benchmark would promote price discovery, enhance transparency, deepen market development, and improve energy availability.

He said it would also encourage investments in downstream infrastructure through trade zones, digital market platforms, and increased supply chain visibility.

The conference focused on standardising pricing mechanisms, improving data transparency, and expanding refining and storage capacity across the region.

Ahmed noted that refining capacity in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire currently stands at 1.335 million barrels per day.

He said fuel supply data for 2025 showed West Africa trading 2.05 million metric tonnes of gasoline monthly, 69 per cent from imports and 31 per cent from local refineries.

He also cited the 2025 OPEC World Oil Outlook, which projected an additional 1.2 million barrels per day of refining capacity in Africa between 2025 and 2030.

“West Africa is expected to contribute significantly to that increase through new and ongoing refinery projects.

“Nigeria’s active maritime coastline links West African markets and features deep seaports with world-class infrastructure and technology.

“We also have regulatory frameworks that meet global maritime standards,” Ahmed said.

He added that NMDPRA’s partnership with S&P Global would leverage reliable data and benchmarking expertise to pilot refined product pricing indices for the Nigerian and wider West African markets.

He also said that the indices would cover products such as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gasoil (AGO), Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

“Our shared goal is to provide clarity, reduce arbitrage inefficiencies, and foster confidence in African pricing frameworks,” Ahmed said.

In a keynote address, Mr Bashir Ojulari, Group CEO of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), reaffirmed the company’s commitment to removing bottlenecks and laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining refining ecosystem in Africa.

Speaking on the theme “Building an African Refinery Hub”, Ojulari said the NNPC was repositioning its refineries, investing strategically in the Dangote Refinery, exploring condensate opportunities, and supporting third-party projects to help transform Africa into a major refining hub.

“NNPC Ltd. stands ready, ready to co-create, co-invest, and co-lead in building an inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive African refining ecosystem,” he said.

Ojulari lauded the NMDPRA for spearheading the push toward energy sufficiency and urged industry stakeholders to move from “declarations to delivery, from national ambition to regional execution, and from fragmented development to system-wide transformation.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru