- Nigeria's government says it has reimbursed $3B to oil companies including Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A, RDS.B), moving closer to clearing operating expense arrears owed since 2010.
- The payments are being settled through a five-year crude oil sales deal agreed in 2016, Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. says, adding that it still owes $917M to Shell, $385M to Eni (NYSE:E), $304M to Total (NYSE:TOT) and $55M to Chevron (NYSE:CVX).
- NNPC operates joint ventures with the producers, which pump 80% of Nigeria's output.
- Lower revenue and demands for other payments hurt NNPC's ability to contribute its share of expenses during 2010-15, leading to the arrears.