The Nigerian government has issued licenses for the establishment of two crude oil export terminals.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) issued the licenses to Belema Sweet Export Terminal Limited and NNPC Exploration and Production Limited on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, said the signing of the terminal establishment licenses for the two crude export terminals would lead to the addition of more than four million barrels of oil capacity to Nigeria’s export storage.
“Our activities today are pursuant to the provisions of the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act), which has stipulated new provisions for the establishment of new export terminals,” he said.
“According to PIA Section 174(1) (a), ‘Except in accordance with an appropriate license issued by the Authority, a person shall not undertake the following activities with respect to midstream petroleum liquids operations — (a) establish, construct or operate a terminal or other facility for the export or importation of crude oil or petroleum products.’
“The authority has processed and hereby approves Terminals Establishment Licences for: (a) NNPC Exploration and Production Limited to establish a 2,179,747 barrel Crude Oil Terminal at Offshore Akwa Ibom State within the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone Nigeria.
“(b) Belema Sweet Export Terminal Limited to establish a 2,000,000 barrel Crude Oil Terminal at 20 Nautical Miles of Kula Southern Part of Exclusive Economic Zone Nigeria.”
The licenses are projected to generate $11bn in annual revenue for Nigeria.
Belema Sweet Export Terminal Limited is owned by businessman, Tien Jack-Rich.
