NNPC Gas  Production Reaches  1-year High As Sales Rise

 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, has recorded its strongest gas performance in a year, with output rising to 7,731 million standard cubic feet per day, mmscfd, in March 2026, as the company leans more on gas to offset crude evacuation challenges affecting overall oil output. Oilmarket analysis

The figure, revealed in a statement by the NNPC, marks a clear improvement in the company’s gas operations, with sales also increasing to 5,059 mmscfd during the period. The rise in gas output comes at a time when crude production has been under pressure due to pipeline disruptions and infrastructure constraints.

NNPC’s March performance shows a gradual shift in operational balance, with gas playing a more central role in revenue generation. The company said the improvement was driven by better field performance and increased utilisation of available gas infrastructure across key assets.

Despite crude oil sales dropping sharply in March, gas production remained stable and grew, helping to cushion the impact on overall earnings. Crude sales fell to 17.37 million barrels from 22.85 million barrels in February, but gas output moved in the opposite direction, reaching its highest level in 12 months.

The company attributed part of the crude disruption to the Trans Forcados Pipeline outage, which affected evacuation between late February and March. However, gas operations were largely unaffected, allowing production to continue rising across several facilities.

NNPC said gas development remains a key part of its upstream strategy, especially as Nigeria continues to push gas as a transition fuel for power generation, industrial use and domestic consumption. The increase in output is also seen as critical to supporting electricity supply and reducing reliance on diesel and petrol-based generation.

Sales figures also reflect stronger demand, with gas sales rising alongside production to over 5,000 mmscfd. Industry operators say this level of output signals improving capacity utilisation in Nigeria’s gas sector, though they note that infrastructure gaps still limit how much of the resource can be monetised efficiently.

The company also confirmed ongoing work on major gas infrastructure projects, including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano pipeline spur line linking to the Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant. It said welding on key sections has been completed, while pre-commissioning activities are ongoing on the mainline.

Work is also continuing on the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben pipeline river crossing, a critical project expected to improve gas evacuation and supply to power plants once completed.

Analysts say the sustained rise in gas output is one of the more stable parts of NNPC’s operations, especially at a time when crude oil logistics remain volatile. They also note that consistent gas growth could play a key role in stabilising Nigeria’s power supply if infrastructure projects are completed on schedule. Oilmarket analysis

For now, March figures show a clear signal: while crude remains exposed to operational risks, gas is quietly becoming the more reliable pillar of NNPC’s production base.