Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced Thursday that it has lifted oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) and aims to reach two million bpd by the end of the year.
October estimates from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) showed Nigeria’s output at 1.3 million bpd, underscoring the rapid progress made.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude exporter, frequently includes approximately 250,000 bpd of condensate production in its overall output.
NNPC attributed the surge to a collective push involving joint venture operators, production-sharing partners, security agencies, and governmental support.
CEO Mele Kyari praised the team’s efforts, stating, “The team has done a great job in not just production recovery but escalating output to levels expected by our shareholders.”
For years, Nigeria has struggled with oil theft in the Niger Delta, frequent sabotage, and local unrest, all of which have hampered its production goals.
In response, NNPC established a ‘war room’ in June to unite efforts between oil partners, the government, and private security to combat crude theft.
The initiative has yielded significant results, with authorities intercepting vessels used in oil theft and apprehending illegal refiners.
Kyari emphasized that heightened monitoring and security measures across the entire production chain have been pivotal to restoring and raising Nigeria’s oil output.