By Jelili Gbadamosi
Rising energy prices are driving down the consumption of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel across Nigeria, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The decline was recorded in the authority’s July Fact Sheet released on Monday, showing significant reductions in the daily consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK).
According to the data, petrol consumption fell by 25 per cent, dropping from 47.4 million litres per day (MLD) in June to 37.6 MLD in July.
Diesel consumption also declined by nine per cent, from 16.0 MLD to 14.7 MLD within the period.
The aviation sector recorded a sharper drop in fuel consumption, with daily ATK usage falling by 41 per cent from 2.9 MLD in June to 1.7 MLD in July.
The reduction came amid continued increases in the prices of petroleum products, which have affected household spending, transportation and business operations across the country.
In July, petrol sold between N1,131 and N1,350 per litre, while diesel prices ranged from N1,440 to N1,670 per litre. Aviation fuel was sold between N1,750 and N2,650 per litre.
The figures suggest that consumers and businesses may be adjusting their energy use in response to the rising cost of petroleum products.
However, the trend was different for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas. Its daily consumption increased by seven per cent, rising from 3.8 kilotonnes per day (KT/D) to 4.1 KT/D.
The contrasting figures highlight the changing pattern of energy consumption in the country as consumers seek ways to cope with higher fuel costs and manage household and operational expenses.
