The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has commissioned Nigeria’s first Gravimetric Multifaceted Flow Metering Calibration Facility in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen crude oil measurement accuracy, boost revenue transparency and deepen local technical capacity.
The facility — the first of its kind in West Africa — is designed to address long-standing challenges in crude oil measurement that have historically contributed to revenue leakages, disputes among operators and regulators, and dependence on foreign laboratories for calibration services.
For decades, inaccurate metering systems have been linked to inconsistencies in production figures and accountability gaps within Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Speaking at the unveiling on Tuesday, the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Development, Mr Manuel Ibituroko, commended Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATL), the indigenous firm that developed the facility, for investing in the state-of-the-art project.
She described the plant as a transformative development for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, noting that it features zero-touch automation, tamper-proof audit trails and high-precision gravimetric standards designed to eliminate human error and minimise downtime.
According to the Commission, the facility can calibrate turbine, ultrasonic, Coriolis, electromagnetic and positive displacement meters — critical devices used in measuring volumes of crude flowing through pipelines and export terminals. The improved accuracy is expected to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen regulatory compliance and optimise production reporting.
The regulator said accurate crude measurement would help curb revenue losses, improve reserves management and free up public funds for key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare and education, while positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for metering excellence.
Previously, oil operators relied heavily on foreign calibration services, incurring significant shipping costs, operational delays and foreign exchange outflows. The new local facility is expected to retain value within the domestic economy and reduce turnaround time for calibration processes.
In his remarks, EATL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Emmanuel Okon, said the project was inspired by Nigeria’s local content drive, which encouraged indigenous companies in 2020 to build in-country technical capacity.
“Without dependable calibration, even advanced meters produce inconsistent narratives. With it, we align on a unified truth,” he said.
Okon explained that the facility incorporates traceable standards, automated data capture and documented uncertainty budgets certified to international benchmarks, enabling regulators, auditors and commercial partners to rely on a single verified dataset.
“This facility promises streamlined revenue reconciliation and compelling investment cases, as Nigerian oil producers will now experience reduced measurement uncertainties,” he said.
He added that greater transparency in production data would empower regulators and oil field operators while giving host communities clearer insight into production volumes, royalties and environmental impacts.
The project was executed under NUPRC oversight with support from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and other stakeholders, ensuring that certificates issued by the facility are recognised for statutory reporting and compliance.
Industry analysts say the development could significantly improve transparency in royalty and tax remittances, strengthen efforts to tackle crude oil theft and boost investor confidence through verifiable production figures.
Beyond regulatory gains, the facility is also projected to create skilled jobs, develop technical hubs within the host community and deepen Nigeria’s domestic expertise in petroleum measurement technology.
