 has revealed that domestic producers exported tonnes of LPG.){kind=link}
Cooking Gas Exports Continue Despite Local Shortages – NMDPRA
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has revealed that domestic producers exported thousands of tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and propane between January and May 2026, despite rising prices and shortages in Nigeria.
At a Gas Emergency Meeting, NMDPRA Chief Executive Rabiu Umar presented data showing that local production exceeded domestic supply, with excess volumes exported.
In February alone, Nigeria produced 6,451MT per day but supplied only 4,084MT, leaving an exportable balance of 2,367MT daily.
Across the five months, a cumulative 7,954MT per day was exported, even as Nigeria faced a supply deficit of 91,966MT against its benchmark requirement of 657,072MT for the first half of the year.
Coverage of domestic demand, which improved to 88.4% in 2025, slipped to 86% in 2026 year-to-date, underscoring persistent gaps.
“Daily requirement is estimated at 3,888MT, while annual requirement stands at 1.42m MT,” the regulator noted.
Production was led by Nigeria LNG (29%), followed by Chevron (23%), Dangote Refinery (16%), and Seplat Energy (14%).
While most supplied locally, Chevron exported 100% of its 148,222MT output, supplying nothing to Nigeria’s market.
Other producers also exported significant propane volumes: Dangote Refinery exported 104,388MT, AHL 43,700MT, and Seplat 89,156MT, despite supplying domestically.
Stakeholders blamed rising cooking gas prices on inadequate supply, forex pressures, and dependence on imports.
In June, marketers imported 16,642MT of LPG to bridge shortages, but consumers still reported scarcity and high costs, forcing many households back to charcoal and firewood.
Experts warn that persistent exports amid local deficits threaten Nigeria’s clean energy transition programme, despite its vast 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.
The NMDPRA cautioned that profiteering and distribution bottlenecks are worsening affordability for millions of Nigerians.