Oil regulators move to cut compliance costs, strengthen radiological safety

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has begun efforts to harmonise its processes with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, aiming to improve radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the cost of doing business in the upstream sector.

The move followed a meeting between NUPRC Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan and NNRA Director-General Yau Idris at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. According to a statement, the collaboration is expected to resolve overlapping regulatory requirements, close oversight gaps, and create a more efficient compliance system for industry operators.

While NUPRC oversees technical, commercial, and operational aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, NNRA regulates the use, transport, and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment nationwide.

Eyesan stressed that greater cooperation among regulators is needed to eliminate duplication and improve the investment climate. She noted that excessive regulatory demands drive up operational costs and hurt industry competitiveness. She argued that multiple laws often come with separate fees and charges, increasing the financial burden on operators.

In response, Idris said NNRA requires NUPRC’s cooperation because the upstream petroleum industry is one of the largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria. He explained that radioactive technologies are widely used in well logging, industrial radiography, and nucleonic gauging for oil and gas exploration.

The partnership aims to create a single-window approach where both agencies share information instead of requiring operators to submit the same data twice. Idris added that since oil and gas extraction often brings Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials to the surface, NNRA seeks to ensure that operators conduct radiological impact assessments as part of their Environmental Impact Assessments, with NORM management protocols incorporated into NUPRC’s environmental guidelines.

Both agencies also agreed to deepen collaboration in training, capacity building, and knowledge sharing on radiation protection and safe operational practices.

The partnership comes as the federal government intensifies efforts to boost petroleum sector investment, increase production, and enhance efficiency following the Petroleum Industry Act.