The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has denied issuing a directive to halt gas supply to power Generating Companies (GenCos) due to unpaid debts of over N2 trillion owed to gas producers which was disclosed in a statement issued by the agency in reaction to several media reports.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has been drawn to a news publication with a spurious claim that the authority has directed that gas supply to power generating companies (GenCos) be halted and instructed wholesale gas suppliers to stop further supply of gas to companies due to failure in payment obligations.
“The NMDPRA wishes to state categorically that this report is false and completely unfounded.”
It stated that the information shared at the recent stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos between NMDPRA, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry has no association with the allegation.
NMDPRA further stated that, “The purpose of the engagement was to sensitize stakeholders on the requirements, opportunities and benefits associated with the implementation of the wholesale supply license as provided by sections 142 and 197 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“It was a follow-up to an earlier stakeholder engagement held at the NMDPRA corporate headquarters in Abuja on November 27, 2024.
“The Authority wishes to reassure all our stakeholders and indeed the general public that at no time was the false statement made at that event and anywhere else, and are advised to completely disregard the publication as every effort is being made to ensure that the supply and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products to end users is seamless and unabated as we head into the festive season and indeed all through the coming year 2025.”