Nigeria Oil Blocks Not Licensed for 15 years – World Bank

The World Bank report has revealed that Nigeria has not held a licensing round for oil blocks other than marginal fields since 2007, due to uncertainties about future regulatory and has contributed to decline in oil production.

This was disclosed by the apex bank in a document titled ‘Nigeria Development Update (June 2022): The Continuing Urgency of Business Unusual.

The World Bank also stated that security concerns, tense relationships with workers and communities, high costs, and the Federation’s failure to finance the production of its equity oil have also contributed to plaguing Nigeria’s oil production for many years.

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The Bank noted, “Due to uncertainties about future regulatory and fiscal frameworks, Nigeria has not held a licensing round for oil blocks other than marginal fields since 2007. New production has been limited to drilling new wells in existing license areas.”

The Bank stated that Petroleum Industry Act, which was enacted in August 2021 would be key to increasing oil production and attracting investors.

“Because the natural production decline in Nigeria, as elsewhere, is about 10–15% a year, the delay in conducting bid rounds since 2007—partly because industry players were waiting for the new Petroleum Industry Act, which was enacted in August 2021 and has made fiscal terms more attractive to investors—has contributed to declining oil production.”

Additionally, that Nigeria has not realized its oil production potential due to high production, high-security risks, the inability of the Federation to pay fully and on time for its share of costs in joint-venture operations, and in the past, uncertainties about the future fiscal terms, now set out in the Petroleum Industry Act.

therefore, the Bank urged the Nigerian government to reduce fiscal pressures and remove petrol subsidies. “Ending the petrol subsidy will go a long way in reversing the decline in oil production. Further, the global energy transition has made investors increasingly selective about where to invest.”

The World Bank stated that Nigeria needs to slash gas flaring, venting, and fugitive methane emissions in order to remain competitive; simultaneously, the government and national oil company must improve their administrative efficiency.