Nigeria recorded a decline in natural gas supplied to electricity generation plants and gas-based industries in September 2026 by four percent.
Figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that gas utilisation by power plants declined by four per cent, while deliveries to gas-based industries fell by nine per cent compared with August.
According to the regulator’s September 2026 Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector Fact Sheet, average daily gas utilisation by power plants stood at 0.518 billion cubic feet, equivalent to 518 million standard cubic feet per day.
Gas-based industries received an average of 0.536 billion cubic feet daily, representing a nine per cent decline from the preceding month.
The reductions occurred alongside a broader contraction in domestic natural gas supply, which fell by 6.7 per cent to 2.066 billion cubic feet per day, compared with approximately 2.21 billion cubic feet recorded in August.
However, the commercial gas segment recorded a three per cent increase, receiving an average of 0.653 billion cubic feet daily.
The contrasting figures indicate that gas utilisation varied across domestic consumer categories during the review period, with electricity generation and gas-based manufacturing recording declines while commercial consumption increased.
The report also recorded 0.279 billion cubic feet per day for the Escravos gas-to-liquids segment as a newly reported category.
Overall natural gas supply, including volumes delivered to Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), declined by 2.2 per cent to 4.822 billion cubic feet daily, down from 4.930 billion cubic feet in August.
While domestic supply contracted, gas delivered to NLNG increased by 1.5 per cent to 2.756 billion cubic feet per day.
The figures highlight differences in supply performance between the domestic market and the gas volumes directed towards liquefied natural gas operations.
Nigeria relies heavily on natural gas for electricity generation, making sustained deliveries an important factor in the performance of thermal power plants connected to the national grid.
A reduction in gas available to these facilities can constrain electricity production where generating units are otherwise available to operate.
However, the NMDPRA report did not establish whether the four per cent decline resulted in reduced electricity generation during September.
It also did not specify whether the reduction was caused by upstream production constraints, maintenance activities, pipeline limitations, or changes in demand from power generation companies.
The decline in gas deliveries to industrial users is equally significant, given the importance of natural gas as both a fuel and feedstock for manufacturing activities.
Industries that depend on gas for production require reliable supplies to maintain operations and manage energy costs.
Where deliveries are insufficient, affected businesses may face production disruptions or increased expenditure on alternative energy sources.
Nevertheless, the regulator’s statistics do not identify the industries affected or indicate whether the lower volumes reflected supply shortages or reduced industrial demand.
Beyond the domestic market, the report revealed that pipeline gas exports through the West African Gas Pipeline declined by 12 per cent to an average of 0.134 billion cubic feet daily.
LNG export volumes also fell by five per cent during the month, according to the regulator’s figures.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s 47 gas processing plants had a combined installed capacity of 16.187 billion cubic feet per day, but average processed volumes stood at 8.394 billion cubic feet daily, representing 51.86 per cent utilisation.
The figures suggest that significant installed processing capacity remained unused during the period, although processing capacity alone does not determine the volume of gas available for delivery to end users.
The September performance highlights the continuing importance of improving gas production, processing, transportation, and supply reliability as Nigeria seeks to strengthen electricity generation and expand domestic gas utilisation.
It also raises questions about the factors behind declining deliveries to power plants and industries at a time when increased gas consumption remains central to the country’s energy and industrial development plans.
