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Danger Looms as Nigeria Delays Enforcement of Dirty Fuels Import Ban

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  • Danger Looms as Nigeria Delays Enforcement of Dirty Fuels Import Ban

More than one and a half years after the Federal Government banned the importation of dirty fuels into the country, industry players and other stakeholders are still awaiting the enforcement of the ban.

Our correspondent gathered that a report had been submitted to the Federal Government by a committee that included the Department of Petroleum Resources, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and the Ministry of Environment regarding the plan to shift to low-sulphur fuels.

Most of the petroleum products consumed in the country are imported with sulphur content as high as 1,000 parts per million for petrol and 3,000ppm for diesel.

On December 1, 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire agreed to ban the importation of Europe’s dirty fuels, limiting sulphur in fuels from 3,000 parts per million to 50 ppm.

But the enforcement of the ban failed to come into effect on July 1, 2017 in Nigeria as announced in December 2016 by the then Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed.

A petroleum expert, Mr Bala Zakka, who expressed concern on the continued importation of dirty fuels, said, “One of the problems with Nigeria is lack of implementation of policies.”

“How on earth can we be exporting sweet crude that is almost sulphur-free or with a small percentage of sulphur and then be importing refined products with high sulphur content? This tells you that something is definitely wrong with Nigeria.” He spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent.

The Chief Operating Officer of Refineries and Petrochemicals, NNPC, Mr Anibor Kragha, told the African Refiners Association in March this year that the country would lower the top level of sulphur in diesel to 50 parts per million from 3,000ppm, by July 1, 2018.

Kragha was quoted by Reuters as saying in a presentation during the ARA Week in Cape Town, South Africa, that while Nigeria was committed to cleaner fuel standards, significant costs complicated efforts to meet the deadline.

He also said that the ministries of Environment, Health, Petroleum Resources and Industry and Trade were working together to finalise rules that would be distributed to importers at some point in the second quarter of this year.

According to him, petrol sulphur level cuts will start in October, moving to 300ppm from 1,000ppm, with a target of 150ppm by October 1, 2019.

Kragha said the first shift to cleaner petrol would cost $11.7m per month, and the second, $15.7m per month, adding that the diesel reduction would cost $2.8m per month.

The National Operations Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Mike Osatuyi, said, “If we continue to import petroleum products with high sulphur because they are cheaper to the detriment of human lives, does it make sense? So, if it costs more and the lives of people are protected and the environment is safe, it is better.”

He told our correspondent that the increase in the price of the products as a result of the shift to low sulphur content would be marginal.

“The DPR, Federal Ministry of Environment, NNPC, SON, National Automotive Design and Development Council, PPPRA, and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria were part of the committee that worked and reviewed the sulphur level on diesel, petrol and kerosene. They have concluded their report and sent it to the government for implementation,” an official of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources told our correspondent on condition of anonymity.

The United Nations Environment Programme said in December 2016 that the move to ban dirty fuel imports by Nigeria and others would dramatically reduce vehicle emissions and help more than 250 million people to breathe safer and cleaner air.

It noted that a report by Public Eye in September 2016 exposed how European trading companies were exploiting the weak regulatory standards in West African countries, allowing for the exportation of fuels with sulphur levels up to 300 times higher than was permitted in Europe.

In a statement dated September 8, 2017 on its website, the Federal Ministry of Environment said in line with the government’s commitment to reduce emissions to protect human health, it had in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment/SON and in due consultation with relevant stakeholders successfully reviewed standards of sulphur content in diesel and petro-products.

It said, “The specified level of sulphur that would henceforth be acceptable in petroleum fuels used in the country is as follows: From July 1, 2017, diesel should have maximum sulphur levels of 50 parts per million; petrol should have maximum sulphur levels of 150 ppm; and household kerosene should have maximum sulphur levels of 150 ppm.”

“Petroleum products that have high sulphur content levels produce high emission levels in automotive engines. Such vehicular emissions contain high level of toxic pollutants such as benzenes and particulates that have negative impact on human health and on the environment. Modern vehicles require fuels that meet high quality standards for a more efficient operation of their engines.”

Compared to other parts of the world, such as Europe and North America, fuel quality in many African countries, including Nigeria, remains very poor.

European standards for fuel quality include Euro IV (50ppm for petrol and diesel) and Euro V (10ppm for both).

UNEP, ARA and health campaigners have been pushing West African nations to ban fuels that are illegal in Europe and the United States for years due to what they say are significant health problems associated with sulphur emissions – particularly in dense urban areas such as Lagos.

The region is said to be one of the last on earth where it is legal to sell fuels with sulphur levels at and above 1,000ppm as East and North African nations and major Asian consumer countries such as China and India have already tightened rules.

ARA has developed the AFRI specifications as guidelines for the production of cleaner fuels including AFRI III (300ppm for petrol and 500ppm for diesel), AFRI IV (150ppm for petrol and 50ppm for diesel). Africa aims to produce fuels with the AFRI-4 specifications by 2020.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Continue to Slide: Drops Over 1% Amid Surging U.S. Stockpiles

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Amidst growing concerns over surging U.S. stockpiles and indications of static output policies from major oil-producing nations, oil prices declined for a second consecutive day by 1% on Wednesday.

Brent crude oil, against which the Nigerian oil price is measured, shed 97 cents or 1.12% to $85.28 per barrel.

Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slumped by 93 cents or a 1.14% fall to close at $80.69.

The recent downtrend in oil prices comes after they reached their highest level since October last week.

However, ongoing concerns regarding burgeoning U.S. crude inventories and uncertainties surrounding potential inaction by the OPEC+ group in their forthcoming technical meeting have exacerbated the downward momentum.

Market analysts attribute the decline to expectations of minimal adjustments to oil output policies by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, until a full ministerial meeting scheduled for June.

In addition to concerns about excess supply, the market’s attention is also focused on the impending release of official government data on U.S. crude inventories, scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT).

Analysts are keenly observing OPEC members for any signals of deviation from their production quotas, suggesting further volatility may lie ahead in the oil market.

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Energy

Nigeria Targets $5bn Investments in Oil and Gas Sector, Says Government

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Nigeria is setting its sights on attracting $5 billion worth of investments in its oil and gas sector, according to statements made by government officials during an oil and gas sector retreat in Abuja.

During the retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained the importance of ramping up crude oil production and creating an environment conducive to attracting investments.

He highlighted the need to work closely with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve these goals.

Lokpobiri acknowledged the challenges posed by issues such as insecurity and pipeline vandalism but expressed confidence in the government’s ability to tackle them effectively.

He stressed the necessity of a globally competitive regulatory framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The minister’s remarks were echoed by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who spoke at the 2024 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Leadership Summit.

Kyari stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth and development and explained that Nigeria still faces challenges in providing stable electricity to its citizens.

Kyari outlined NNPCL’s vision for the future, which includes increasing crude oil production, expanding refining capacity, and growing the company’s retail network.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas resources and optimizing dividend payouts to shareholders.

Overall, the government’s commitment to attracting $5 billion in investments reflects its determination to revitalize the oil and gas sector and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

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Commodities

Palm Oil Rebounds on Upbeat Malaysian Exports Amid Indonesian Supply Concerns

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Palm Oil - Investors King

Palm oil prices rebounded from a two-day decline on reports that Malaysian exports will be robust this month despite concerns over potential supply disruptions from Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil exporter.

The market saw a significant surge as Malaysian export figures for the current month painted a promising picture.

Senior trader David Ng from IcebergX Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur attributed the morning’s gains to Malaysia’s strong export performance, with shipments climbing by a notable 14% during March 1-25 compared to the previous month.

Increased demand from key regions like Africa, India, and the Middle East contributed to this impressive growth, as reported by Intertek Testing Services.

However, amidst this positivity, investors are closely monitoring developments in Indonesia. The Indonesian government’s contemplation of revising its domestic market obligation policy, potentially linking it to production rather than exports, has stirred market concerns.

Edy Priyono, a deputy at the presidential staff office in Jakarta, indicated that this proposed shift aims to mitigate vulnerability to fluctuations in export demand.

Yet, it could potentially constrain supply availability from Indonesia in the future to stabilize domestic prices.

This uncertainty surrounding Indonesian policies has added a layer of complexity to palm oil market dynamics, prompting investors to react cautiously despite Malaysia’s promising export performance.

The prospect of Indonesian supply disruptions underscores the delicacy of global palm oil supply chains and their susceptibility to geopolitical and regulatory factors.

As the market navigates these developments, stakeholders remain attentive to both export data from Malaysia and policy shifts in Indonesia, recognizing their significant impact on palm oil prices and market stability.

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