Author: Adeoye Adefulu

Dr. Adeoye Adefulu is a Partner in Odujinrin & Adefulu’s Energy Practice Team. Adeoye holds a Ph.D from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy, University of Dundee, where his research focused on oil and gas reform in Nigeria. He is consistently ranked as one of Nigeria’s leading energy lawyers and is widely regarded as an expert on the Petroleum Industry Bill. Adeoye has advised private companies on the impact of the Bill on their operations and has also advised members of the National Assembly on critical aspects of the Bill. He writes extensively and has given several presentations on energy reform, the Nigerian oil and gas industry and Nigeria’s electricity industry.
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NUPRC vs NMDPRA: Resolving the Quagmire Over the Regulation of Export Terminals

A popular African proverb states, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” This analogy emphasizes the consequences of conflicts or disputes between powerful entities, where the weaker or less influential ones bear the brunt of the negative effects. In the case of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry, the powerful entities are represented by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (“NUPRC”) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (“NMDPRA”), while the weaker parties are the upstream companies regulated by them.

In recent months, these two entities have been engaged in a dispute over the authority to regulate terminal operations and the export of crude oil. This conflict stems from ambiguities in the Petroleum Industry Act (“PIA”). This paper traces the origins of the problem and proposes alternative approaches to the adversarial position taken by the regulators.

Continue reading “NUPRC vs NMDPRA: Resolving the Quagmire Over the Regulation of Export Terminals“
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Senate Report on the PIB

The Senate Report on the PIB may be found here. A notable difference from the report of the House of Representatives is the insertion of a new section 317(8), which seeks to implement the backward integration policy, previously utilised in the sugar and cement industries, in the petroleum industry. Section 317(8) provides as follows:

(1) The Authority shall apply the Backward
Integration Policy in the downstream
petroleum sector to encourage investment in
local refining.
(2) Pursuant to subsection (1) of this section,
licence to import any product shortfalls may be
assigned only to companies with active local
refining licences and proven track records of
international crude oil and petroleum products
trading.
(3) Import volume to be allocated between
participants shall be based on criteria to be set
by the Authority taking into account the
respective refining output in the preceding
quarter, share of active wholesale customers
competitive pricing and prudent supply and
distribution track records.
(4) To safeguard the health of Nigerians,
imported petroleum products shall conform to
the Afri-5 specification (50 ppm sulphur) as per
the ECOWAS declaration of February, 2020 on
adoption of the Afri-Fuels Roadmap.

The effect of the provisions of section 317(8)(1-3) will be to stifle competition in the supply of petroleum products and will ultimately have an impact on the price of all petroleum products.

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House of Reps passes the Petroleum Industry Bill

The Nigerian House of Representatives passed the Petroleum Industry Bill today. The Senate is also expected to pass the bill later today, after which the versions of the Bill will be reconciled before being sent to the President for assent. The reconciliation process is expected to be short as the House of Reps and Senate Committees worked together in the review of the Bill. The President is likely to give his assent fairly quickly to the Petroleum Industry Bill, given that the Bill was proposed by the Executive and its drafting committee worked very closely with the National Assembly. We will share the version of the Bill we have received shortly.

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Live blogging the Public Hearing at the House of Representatives Day 1

The PIB public hearing at the House of Representatives will commence shortly. The public hearing will be streamed live on Zoom and will also be shown on NTA.

Public hearing commences at 10:30 am with a speech by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who focused on the urgency of reforms and the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy. PIB should provide solutions uniquely suited to our needs. The House of Representatives intends to pass this bill by April.

HMSPR, Timipre Sylva thanks the members of the House of Representatives for their work on the Bill so far. “The effort to pass the PIB must be sustained and finalised. The world has changed significantly since the efforts for reform started.” The Minister emphasised the challenges of energy transition and the urgency of passing the PIB. “I am available to assist in any way that I can.”

NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari – “oil will still be relevant in another 30 years. The uses will change but oil and gas will still be relevant.” Only countries that can harness the resources in an efficient way will prosper. The time is now. We have not seen any significant investment in the oil and gas industry since 2000 as there has been no fiscal stability. Our current fiscal environment is uncompetitive. We have made significant improvements in the PIB and there is still room for improvement.

Chairman of OPTS – Mike Sangster:

  1. only US$ 3bn out of US$ 70 bn invested in Africa was invested in Nigeria;
  2. operating costs in the country is over 40% higher than competitor countries;
  3. Deepwater developments – PIB does not provide a favourable environment for future investments;
  4. PIB should grant full royalty relief for the first 5 years for deepwater;
  5. Gas – PIB does not address the key issues facing gas development. Inadequate infrastructure, low gas pricing.
  6. PIB must honour existing contractual obligations. Operators should be allowed to retain their existing license areas.
  7. Segregation of upstream and midstream assets under the PIB should not apply to past investments;
  8. PIB needs to include a robust dispute resolution process;
  9. The dual tax system introduces a complexity;
  10. The deductions should be based on WREN test;
  11. Royalties should not be included in calculating the cost price ratio;
  12. PIB does not broadly support the growth of indigenous oil companies.

Chairman FIRS, Muhammad Nami:

  1. Tax administration will change significantly and will increase fiscal administration. FIRS is able to rise up to the challenge;
  2. There will be a reduction in tax revenue in the short term, which will be compensated in the mid to long term by increased investments;
  3. OPTS concerns on capital allowance has been raised with the executive committee and has been addressed;

Representative of Total, Victor Bandele:

  1. The Bill increases administrative complexity
  2. Total proposes a 5 year royalty relief and the removal of hydrocarbon tax for deep water;
  3. cost price ratio should be deleted;
  4. the deductibility provisions under hydrocarbon tax and the companies income tax act are misaligned;
  5. Sole risk contracts should have the option to preserve the fiscal terms.

Nigerian Labour Congress:

  1. No provisions for labour in the bill;
  2. the provisions on the levy needs to be clarified.

Delta State, Chief Economic Adviser:

  1. Incorporation of the host communities should be done within 3 months;
  2. Failure to incorporate should be penalised;
  3. Host community fund should be 5% of revenues;
  4. 20% of the license fee should be allocated to the trust fund;
  5. Members of the board of trustees should be selected by a panel including the settlor and communities;
  6. Chairman of the trustees should be appointed on a rotational basis;
  7. Surveillance contracts should be given to the host communities;

Joint Presentation by NUPENG & PENGASSAN:

  1. We must not pass a PIB like the Deep Offshore Inland Basin Amendment Act 2019, which was a disincentive for investment;
  2. PIB must protect Nigerian workers and stamp out casualisation in the oil and gas industry;
  3. We should have a single regulator in the oil and gas industry;
  4. Labour unions should be represented in the Commission;
  5. NNPC limited should include an independent director nominated by the regulator;
  6. a portion of oil company training budget should be set aside for PTI;

Women in Energy Network President Mrs. Funmi Ogbue

  1. Ensure gender neutrality in the PIB
  2. PIB should ensure 35% of representatives of the organisations created in it are reserved for women;

Always Ibom State representative

  1. Host communities and state governments should be involved in appointing the trustees for host communities development trust;
  2. PIB should recognise the concurrent jurisdiction of the States on environmental matters;
  3. oil producing states should have shareholding in NNPC Limited.

Federal University of Petroleum Resources:

  1. FUPRE should be recognised in the PIB;
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Live Blogging the Senate Public Hearing

Good morning. Day 2 of the public hearing starts with the representative of the Rivers State Government. Points made include:

  1. Petroleum should be vested in the Federal Government and the petroleum producing states;
  2. Petroleum producing states should nominate members to the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission;
  3. The Upstream Regulatory Commission should not be responsible for frontier exploration;
  4. Midstream Gas Infrastructure Fund should be expunged;
  5. Petroleum data should belong to both the federal government and the government of the petroleum producing states;
  6. NNPC’s shares should not be sold and any decision regarding the disposal of assets should be made with the approval of the petroleum producing states.

The second set of presentations is being given by the Host Community Association:

  1. Host communities as a critical stakeholder should be granted a 10% equity position in all licenses – 5% from the government and 5% from investors;
  2. Gas flaring fees and penalties should be transferred to the host communities.
  3. The Bill should ensure that there is host community participation in environmental issues;
  4. Ensure that the principles of sustainable development is enshrined in the Bill;
  5. Establish a national body called Oil and Gas Producing Development Commission, which should be replicated at the States and Local Government levels;
  6. 25% of Royalties from Upstream production should go to the Host Communities;

The representatives of DAPPMAN:

  1. Expunge the levy imposed on the wholesale price of petroleum products;
  2. Regulatory decisions should be made on a level playing field;
  3. Board of the Authority should include senior industry representatives;
  4. All provisions in relation to the regulation petroleum product pricing should be deleted and prices should be determined by the market;
  5. Tariff regulation also not necessary because there is sufficient competition in the petroleum products market;
  6. PIB should include minimum license terms for the downstream sector;
  7. Competition regulation should be exercised by the Federal Competition regulator;
  8. Third party access provisions should only relate to uncontracted capacity;
  9. Storage depots should not be required to contribute to the host community funds as they are low margin businesses.

National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency:

  1. Concerned about the powers granted to the Commission and the Authority in relation to environmental matters;
  2. Environmental functions should remain in the hands of the Ministry of Environment;
  3. Environmental management plan provisions conflict with the general environmental impact assessment provisions.

Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria:

  1. This bill does not promote local content;
  2. The Commission and the Authority should be merged;
  3. The power to revoke and assign licenses should not be delegable;
  4. NCDMB and PETAN should be included in the board of the Commission and the PETAN should be included on the board of the Authority.

AELEX:

  1. The Bill should follow the existing government policy and adopt the single regulator model;

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KPMG presentation

Very important for Nigeria to pass a bill that is realistic.

KPMG believes that the provisions on cost price ratio will harm investment.

NDDC no longer relevant and host community funds should be deducted from the contribution to NDDC funds.

Environmental remediation fund is not necessary.

Voluntary conversion from current licenses to the new licenses created under the PIB is not truly voluntary given the time within which it must be done.

The PIB should not mandate the formation of new companies to takeover existing midstream operations of licensees.