Nigeria for the 2nd consecutive time led other African countries in December 2009 crude oil production which hit 1.984 million barrels per day pushing Angola to the second position. This production does not include condensate which hovers around 400 barrels per day.

The December production level went up from 1.941 million barrels per day to 1.984 million bpd, while Angola slipped to the second position with production level coming down to 1.856 million bpd from 1.877 million barrels per day. According to Renaissance Capital, Nigeria’s output rose 2.2 on month-on-month basis and 3.7 on year-on-year basis, while Angola’s production level dropped by 2.0 percent year-on-year.

The crisis in the Niger Delta which led to attacks of facilities belonging to oil companies coupled with ageing infrastructure and lack of investment in the oil industry have largely been responsible for the slip in Nigeria’s oil production since the beginning of 2000’s. 

(Source: BusinessDay)