The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says regulations administered by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in respect of midstream and downstream petroleum operations are revoked in its proposed 2024 regulations.

It also revoked all regulations published in the federal gazette that have been consolidated into the 2024 Regulations and Petroleum Refining Regulations 1974.

The authority made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a presentation on the ‘Structure of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations, 2024′ by its Secretary and Legal Adviser, Dr Joseph Tolorunse.

Mr Tolorunse, in an overview of the regulations at its stakeholders consultation forum on the proposed midstream and downstream petroleum operations regulations 2024, said it also revoked the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations, 2023.

“Licence, permit and authorisation application and processing fees moved to Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations (Draft).

“The revocation of the Regulations specified in regulations 145 (1) and (2) shall not affect anything done or purported to be done under the revoked regulations.

“Any regulations administered by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources in respect of Midstream and Downstream Petroleum operations are hereby revoked,” he said.

Also, Ogbugo Ukoha, executive director of distribution systems, storage and retailing infrastructure, said the stakeholders’ consultation was in furtherance of section 216 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

Mr Ukoha, also the chairman of the technical team on stakeholders’ engagement, said the PIA section mandated consultation with stakeholders before the finalisation of regulations made under the Act.

“Section 33 of the PIA is to the effect that the Authority may make regulations for all activities relating to midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria,” he said.

He said the proposed 2024 Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations Regulations (Operations Regulations) consolidated 12 of the authority’s earlier gazetted or published regulations into a single document.

“The consolidation process has enabled NMDPRA to reduce complexities of navigating and implementing its numerous regulations and streamline operations in the midstream and downstream petroleum regulatory industry.

“The process has enabled the authority to address inconsistencies in the regulatory space and engender further compliance with the PIA and Regulations made thereto.

“The proposed operations regulations are also in consonance with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“These regulations are to be read in conjunction with other regulations made by the authority, including the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations, which provide for the prescribed fees for midstream and downstream petroleum activities,” Mr Ukoha said.

According to him, the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations, following a successful stakeholder consultation and approval of the Ministers of State for Petroleum Resources, would soon be published in the federal government gazette. 

(NAN)