Angola is now Africa’s biggest oil producer, beating Nigeria as Africa’s top oil producer. This was as a result of heavy decline the country’s output in May, this year.
The develop has relegated the country as one of the world’s highest producer amongst members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
In the month of May it was evident that Nigeria’s oil production reduced by 195,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.02 million bpd in May from 1.22 million in April, OPEC’s monthly report indicated. Whereas, Angola’s oil production stood at 1.16 million bpd in May, down from 1.18 million bpd in April, based on direct communication.
OPEC usually publishes a table of figures submitted by its member countries while also using secondary sources to monitor its oil output.
According to both direct communication and secondary sources’ data, Nigeria suffered heavy decline in production among its OPEC peers.
OPEC’s crude oil production averaged 28.51 million bpd in May, lower by 176,000 bpd compared to the previous month, secondary sources says.
“Crude oil output increased mainly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, while production in Libya, Nigeria, Iraq, Gabon and IR Iran declined,” the 13-member oil cartel said.
Preliminary data indicates that global liquids production in May decreased by 0.15 million bpd to an average 98.75 million bpd compared to the previous month.
However, non-OPEC liquids production, including OPEC natural gas liquids (NGLs), are estimated to have increased in May by a minor 23,000 bpd month-on-month to an average 70.2 million bpd, but was higher by 1.7 million bpd year-on-year.
The report said: “The share of OPEC crude oil in total global production decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 28.9 percent in May compared with the previous month.
“Estimates are based on preliminary data from direct communication for non-OPEC supply, OPEC NGLs and non-conventional oil, while estimates for OPEC crude production are based on secondary sources.”
