WHY NMDPRA’S NEW VESSEL REPORTING MATTERS

WHY NMDPRA’S NEW VESSEL REPORTING MATTERS

In a sector where transparency has long been a challenge, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has taken an important step forward by commencing the publication of vessel reports. At first glance, this may look like just another regulatory update. In reality, it represents a meaningful shift in how Nigerians can track the movement of petroleum products, including LPG into and out of the country.

 

What the Vessel Report Is About

The NMDPRA vessel report is essentially a published list of vessels calling at Nigerian ports, covering both arrivals and departures. It spans all refined petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). For the first time, industry players, analysts, and the general public can monitor product movement with greater visibility rather than relying on informal market intelligence. This matters because vessel movements are the earliest indicators of supply. Knowing which vessels are arriving, when they arrive, and where they berth provides valuable insight into product availability, supply planning, and market dynamics.

 

LPG in the Report: Visible but Not Yet Detailed

From an LPG perspective, which is our primary concern, the report is a welcome development, even though it still has limitations. While LPG vessels are listed, the products are not clearly highlighted or differentiated in the report. LPG sits alongside other refined products, making it less straightforward to isolate LPG-specific data at a glance. That said, industry stakeholders can already identify familiar LPG vessel names in the report. Names such as Alfred Temile, associated with operators like Stockgap and Algasco, as well as Sapet Gas, stand out. These are vessels well known within the Nigerian LPG ecosystem, and their inclusion helps validate the usefulness of the report for LPG market tracking.

 

Another notable aspect of the vessel report is its coverage of both local and international vessels. This includes LPG cargoes from NLNG Bonny, which remains a critical domestic supply source, as well as international imports. Having both streams visible in one place allows for a more holistic understanding of Nigeria’s LPG supply mix, local production versus imported volumes. For a market that still balances domestic supply with imports, this level of visibility is particularly valuable.

 

While the vessel report is a strong step in the right direction, one key piece of information is still missing: volume data. The report currently lists vessels but does not specify how much LPG each vessel is carrying. For the LPG industry, volumes are everything. Without volume data, it is difficult to accurately assess supply adequacy, forecast shortages, or link vessel arrivals to pricing movements in the market. As stakeholders, we will be capturing and tracking LPG supply on a monthly basis using the NMDPRA vessel reports as a foundation. However, the inclusion of cargo volumes by NMDPRA would significantly enhance the value of this initiative and support better planning, analysis, and policy decisions across the industry.

 

Despite its current limitations, the vessel reporting initiative deserves commendation. Transparency is the backbone of a functional energy market, and NMDPRA’s decision to make this information publicly accessible is a positive signal to the industry. Nigerians can now visit the NMDPRA platform and independently track vessel movements, something that was previously difficult or inaccessible. Kudos to NMDPRA for taking this step. With further refinements, especially the inclusion of product differentiation and volume data, the vessel report could become an indispensable tool for Nigeria’s LPG industry and the wider downstream petroleum sector. For now, it is a strong start, and one that brings us closer to a more informed, data-driven LPG market in Nigeria.

 

• Nmdpra
• nmdpra reporting
• nigeria
• cng
• lpg
• lpg in nigeria