NNPC on behalf of federal govt. signs USD1.5 billion prepayment deal with oil traders

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on behalf of the federal government has signed a USD1.5 billion prepayment deal with Standard Chartered and backed by oil traders Vitol Group and Matrix Energy, according to a news report by This day.

A report yesterday by Reuters, quoting persons close to the matter, said it would be the first such agreement since the COVID-19 pandemic, which would see the country supply a certain quantity of prepaid barrels of oil over time.

The financing package, called 'Project Eagle,' was also backed by African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim) and United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Vitol and Matrix will each get 15,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude as repayment over five years, starting in August with Nigeria's crude production nearly two million bpd, minus a recent quota cut agreed by OPEC members.

Nigerian trader, Matrix confirmed its participation in the deal, while Vitol, the world's biggest independent oil trader declined to comment.

A spokesman for Standard Chartered declined to comment and Afrexim did not have an immediate comment.

UBA and the NNPC also did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

The prepayment deal will likely weaken longer-term revenues since Nigeria will offer its oil at a reduced price and will miss out on any price increases.

However, the deal would provide Nigeria with upfront cash and guaranteed revenue as it expands its budget.