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Debt management: NNPC struggles, borrows to pay $1.5b foreign debt

By David Abellegah on January 8, 2013

Andrew Yakubu, NNPC GMD

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has borrowed money to cover up its debts at the international Market.

This information was disclosed to Reuters by a Senior Banking source within the banking industry.

The loan became very vital to ease the burden on the NNPC that faced debt of several millions of dollars. The deal it was disclosed was struck towards the closing of last year.

Reports gathered indicate that NNPC got the loan from some Nigerians and international banks while the deal was brokered by Standard Chartered Bank. The scheduled time for the repayment of the debt is five and a half years, adding that NNPC has to offer up to 15,000 of its daily oil production as collateral.

Standard Chartered Bank however, refused to comment on the development.

A senior staff with the NNPC confirmed the transaction, saying it is true but it has not been finalised yet.

The source also said the deal was still on and the lawyers standing in for NNPC and the other banks were working on the papers to ensure a good deal. Although the source denied any knowledge of the 150,000 barrels of crude offered as collateral.

He confirmed reports that the loan was meant for the repayment of debts owned international business colleagues.

Stressing on the need for the loan, the source said the loan will help mutual trust and facilitate business transactions between NNPC and its foreign partners.

Adding, he said if the NNPC fails to pay such debts, it will be bad on its image in the business world.

NNPC has in recent time been the major importer of fuel used in the country following the refusal of oil marketers to import the product because of subsidy feud between them and the government.

The oil marketers during the end of last year claimed that the federal government owed them about N200b of subsidy claims.

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