The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Tuesday announced the replacement of the Offshore Processing Arrangement, OPA, option for a more efficient Direct Sale-Direct Purchase, DSDP, of crude oil.

In a statement issued by the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Ohi Alegbe, the corporation stated that the DSDP would allow for direct sale of crude oil and petroleum products to credible international refineries.

Alegbe said that the option was adopted after the evaluation of pre-qualified bidders to ensure transparency and eliminate the activities of middlemen in the sale crude oil.

He said that the exercise showed that most of the 44 companies shortlisted for the next stage of the tender process only had affiliations with refineries abroad, a situation which introduced toll on the value chain.

He added that if allowed to continue, the trend would in turn constitute a significant value loss to the country by way of accruals.

“In this regard, only valid owners of refineries identified in the ongoing OPA tender evaluation process will be further engaged.

“The identified refineries will be subjected to due diligence and analysis by NNPC appointed consultants to confirm suitability in line with international best practice,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the NNPC has withdrawn its request for commercial bids issued to the 44 shortlisted bidders made up of 34 international firms and 10 indigenous companies.