Nigeria TV Info 

Local Refineries Import 2 Million Barrels of Libyan Crude Amid Domestic Supply Shortage

Nigeria's refining sector has turned to Libya for crude oil supply after persistent shortages of locally available feedstock forced domestic refiners to seek alternative sources. In May 2026, local refineries, led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, imported approximately two million barrels of Libyan crude—the first recorded import of its kind from the North African nation.

According to industry data, Nigeria imported an average of 64,500 barrels of Libyan crude per day during the month. The development reflects the growing challenge faced by domestic refiners in securing sufficient crude supplies, despite Nigeria remaining one of Africa's leading crude oil producers.

Industry experts attribute the imports to increased refinery demand as refining capacity expands. The Dangote Refinery, which continues to ramp up operations and plans further capacity expansion, requires larger volumes of crude from multiple sources to sustain production. At the same time, Nigeria continues to export a significant portion of its crude output, limiting the volume available for domestic refining.

Data indicates that Nigeria exported nearly 149 million barrels of crude oil during the first five months of 2026, representing almost 69 percent of total production over the period. This has intensified calls from local refiners for stricter enforcement of domestic crude supply obligations to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen Nigeria's energy security.

The import of Libyan crude also comes amid evolving global energy markets, with geopolitical tensions and changing trade flows encouraging refiners to diversify crude sourcing. Analysts believe the move could become more common if domestic supply constraints persist, even as Nigeria works to increase crude production and support local refining capacity.