NUPRC Reports 93.4% Rise in Oil Losses in 2026

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported that daily crude oil losses increased by 93.4% to 17,600 barrels per day (bpd) between January and July 2026, despite a significant reduction over the previous five years. In 2025, losses had fallen to a five-year low of 9,100 bpd.

The NUPRC's fifth anniversary publication, ‘The Upstream Gaze’, indicated that losses had decreased from 102,900 bpd in 2021 to 55,000 bpd in 2022, continuing to decline to 22,900 bpd in 2023, 11,200 bpd in 2024, and 9,100 bpd in 2025. The federal government credited the reduction in crude losses to military efforts, local pipeline surveillance groups in the Niger Delta, and modern crude measuring devices.

Total liquid hydrocarbon production averaged 1.63 million bpd in the first seven months of 2026, slightly up from 1.62 million bpd in 2025. Crude oil production averaged 1.46 million bpd, while blended condensate production fell to 170,000 bpd.

Supply to domestic refineries increased significantly to 460,000 bpd, indicating a growing demand for locally processed crude.