Nigerian refineries import 2 million barrels of Libyan crude amidst domestic shortage

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is the primary importer of this crude. This development occurs as Nigeria exports a significant portion of its domestically produced crude, leading local refineries to seek feedstock from other sources. Data from the Energy Research Unit indicates that Nigeria imported around 64,500 barrels per day of Libyan crude in May 2026.

While the Libyan National Oil Corporation had previously denied negotiations in 2024 regarding crude supply to Nigerian refineries, the recent imports suggest an agreement has been reached. The Dangote refinery, aiming to increase its capacity, has also imported crude from Angola, Ghana, and Guyana in 2026, and recently purchased its first cargoes from the United Arab Emirates. Nigerian local refiners have consistently reported insufficient crude supply due to high export volumes.

In the first five months of 2026, Nigeria exported about 149 million barrels out of 216.85 million barrels produced, leaving approximately 67.95 million barrels for domestic use. The import of Libyan crude aligns with international oil market adjustments due to supply disruptions, allowing Libyan crude to expand its presence in African and European markets. Egypt and Tunisia have also increased their imports of Libyan crude, while Italy remains Libya's largest customer.