The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has raised the natural gas price for power generation companies (GenCos) to $2.18 per million metric British thermal units (MMBTU).
This marks a $0.05/MMBTU hike from the earlier rate of $2.13 per MMBTU.
In a circular released on Tuesday, the regulator outlined the updated domestic base price (DBP) and wholesale natural gas prices for 2025.
The DBP represents the lowest price at which natural gas can be offered in the domestic market.
The document states that the adjustment will begin today (April 1, 2026).
“Taking into account the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provisions, current market conditions, and the official Gas Pricing and Domestic Demand Regulations, the NMDPRA sets the new Domestic Base Price at USD 2.18/MMBtu, along with wholesale prices for the strategic sector, starting April 1, 2026,” the circular stated.
In the directive signed by NMDPRA CEO, Mr Saidu Mohammed, the regulator also indicates that commercial buyers will now pay $2.68 per MMBTU, up from $2.63 per MMBTU previously.
Additionally, the authority fixed prices for gas-based industries (such as ammonia, urea, methanol, and low-sulphur diesel) at a floor of $0.90 per MMBTU and a ceiling of $2.18 per MMBTU.
NMDPRA explained that the domestic base price at the marketable gas delivery point—per section 167(1) of the PIA—follows regulations based on key principles:
“a) A rate sufficient to encourage upstream producers to voluntarily supply enough gas to the domestic market.
“b) No higher than the average natural gas prices in major emerging producer nations.
“c) Based on the lowest supply costs under a three-tier framework.
“d) Aligned with market rates and international benchmarks.”
This change could affect the country’s power sector, already strained by massive debt and a lack of gas supply.
Last month, the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), an umbrella body for power generation companies, warned that gas suppliers might halt deliveries to thermal plants due to debt of around N6.5 trillion.
The federal government disclosed plans in December to raise N1.23 trillion by the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 to settle verified arrears owed to generation companies and gas suppliers. On January 27, the government said it had successfully issued a N501 billion inaugural bond under the presidential power sector debt reduction programme (PPSDRP).
However, the APGC has said that this is inadequate, comparing the debt to “garri soaked in water.”