It is no longer news that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) intends to take up 20% equity in the 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery under construction in Lagos.
The refinery, roughly valued at $19 billion is set to be the largest single-train refinery in the world and is expected to transform Nigeria from a net importer of refined petroleum products to a net exporter, increase its foreign exchange earnings, and help the country meet rising domestic fuel demand.
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Is NNPC the right partner for Dangote?
Still, the announcement by NNPC that it would be taking up equity in the refinery has generated much controversy, and for various reasons too. Topmost is the fact that the NNPC has a history of ineffectiveness and has come to be associated with corruption and financial malfeasance.
The 2014 report of $20 billion unaccounted for by the NNPC as well as the various subsidy scandals that have rocked the Corporation has wrecked its credibility. In 2020, the Corporation reported $154 billion losses from the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries, and according to its 2019 published audited statements, it had an accumulated loss of N474 billion. These disturbing numbers have engendered questions about the move by the national oil company to acquire equity stakes in what seems to be a potential road to prosperity.
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What does the NNPC plan to achieve?
According to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, equity participation is in a bid to promote “national energy security and fiscal security.” He cited a government policy directive that mandated the participation of the Corporation in any privately-owned refinery that exceeds 50, 000 barrels per day capacity. Government sources have stated that the Corporation intends to take up equity in 5 other refineries; no details have been provided about the percentages or specific details of these refineries. This makes one wonder if the policy directive is perhaps more concerned with the Dangote refinery than the others.
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A case for Nigeria’s energy security
Additionally, the argument for energy security, while well-intentioned, may fall flat on its face when one considers that with 20% and one board seat on the Dangote refinery board, NNPC will hardly have control of the activities of the refinery. Except for decisions that require consensus, ordinary resolutions and special resolutions will very well sail through without an affirmative vote by NNPC.
Financing NNPC’s equity in Dangote’s Refinery
There was also some concern about whether public funds were going to be used to fund NNPC’s equity, but that seems to have been put to bed as Kyari has now confirmed that the NNPC will borrow from a syndicate being organized by Afrexim to fund its equity, and that the repayment of the loan will be from the cash flow and dividends from the refinery.
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Potential issues with the NNPC’s financing
Still, NNPC seems to have failed to consider the medium to long term challenges that could affect refining margins, one of which is the global transition away from fossil fuels, especially considering the plant does not come onstream until late next year, or as some say, early 2023. Kyari, in fact, admitted when speaking about the refinery and NNPC’s equity in an interview that, “This is what we should have done 20 years ago.”
A shifting of these margins could affect the expected returns from the refinery and the debt servicing in the long run. There is also the risk that environmental pollution issues may not be addressed head-on by regulators, a typical response when NNPC holds interest in projects, thus making surrounding communities worse off.
A change of government in 2023 might also be something to consider – the failure to respect the sanctity of contracts and the volatile nature of the country’s political structure are significant risks. While it is hoped that these risks would not derail the Corporation’s participation in any way, the possibility must be considered, especially as the refinery may just be coming onstream at the time.
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How will the PIB affect NNPC’s equity?
There may also be some positive sides to the Corporation’s participation. Should the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) be signed into law, NNPC will evolve into a commercial and profit-focused limited liability company within 6 months. As there is high optimism that the Bill will be signed into law this year, NNPC Limited is expected to be the operating entity when the Dangote refinery comes onstream. This would probably mean that profits will be properly managed and accounted for. Government interference may also be reduced.
If managed properly, the country stands to gain significant financial benefits from owning an interest in the refinery, which is poised to serve local fuel needs and a fair amount of the African continent. Also, there appears to be some positivity about easing OPEC quota caps, which may mean more production and earnings for a while longer.
What are the experts saying?
In a conversation with analyst Kalu Aja, “a product (crude) for equity swap will be a better arrangement for NNPC to finance the 20% equity stake in the Dangote refinery. There is a plethora of ways the government can explore; tax credits receipts in dollars, and perhaps funding from sovereign wealth fund.”
He further stressed that a major issue with the proposed method of financing is that NNPC borrows foreign currency to earn in local currency to then refinance in foreign currency.
However, if the proposed borrowing structure touted by the NNPC achieves financial close, it may turn out to be more advantageous than many proposed alternatives for the equity participation. For one, the NNPC will not be giving its oil for “free” or tying up its cash or oil (that could potentially earn for it) in the equity stake of the Dangote refinery, rather, by using cashflow-based lending to acquire equity, it will both earn and service the loan without encumbering its assets.
It is also expected that the borrowing from the Afrexim syndicate will be naira-denominated either fully or partially, especially since the return on equity from the refinery (whether in cash or products) is likely to be naira-based.
Whichever way it turns out, the earnings from the refinery must be put to good use. One crucial way is by investing in the energy transition – funds should be put away for natural gas development, the growth of renewable energy and funding other non-oil sectors of the economy.
I pray for strength and knowledge
Nice postulations, Caleb.