NNPCL attributes August decline in crude oil output to facility maintenance

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has explained the drop in Nigeria’s crude oil production in August 2025, citing scheduled maintenance activities at major upstream facilities as the main reason.

According to the company, total crude oil and condensate output for the month stood at 1.65 million barrels per day (mmbopd), a slight decline from 1.70 mmbopd recorded in July.

The August figure comprised 1.38 mmbopd of crude oil and 0.27 mmbopd of condensate.

NNPCL noted that the maintenance operations were synchronized with the Nigeria LNG’s Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), which also led to a reduction in natural gas production and sales.

Natural gas output fell from 7,722 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) in July to 6,949 mmscf/d in August, while gas sales dropped from 4,978 mmscf/d to 4,201 mmscf/d during the same period.

Similarly, crude oil and condensate sales declined to 22.37 million barrels in August, compared to 25.49 million barrels in July, reflecting the temporary production shortfall.

Despite the dip, NNPCL reported steady progress on key gas infrastructure projects. Construction on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline is ongoing with accelerated completion plans, while the Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline project advanced with robust geotechnical works.

A 113-kilometre section of the OB3 line has already been commissioned, delivering about 300 mmscf/d of gas from producers such as AHL, Platform, Chorus, and Xenergi.

The company further disclosed that its upstream pipelines recorded strong operational performance in August, with availability rates of 96% for OB3, 84% for AKK, 96% for other upstream lines, and 76% for NRL PMS stations.

NNPCL also reaffirmed its fiscal commitment, reporting ₦8.86 trillion in statutory payments between January and July 2025.