Application of the Delayed Royalty Framework for Onshore Petroleum Investment in Nigeria Using the 1993 Production Sharing Contract

Abstract

The 1993 production sharing contract (PSC) in Nigeria specifies different royalty rates for oil and gas investment. The royalty rates were fixed. This makes the fiscal arrangement to be regressive in nature. Royalty rate of 20% is to be paid for onshore investment using the 1993 PSC. Hence, there is a need to make the fiscal arrangement progressive. The delayed royalty framework was incorporated into the1993 PSC as a progressive measure to make it dynamic. Two economic models were developed using spreadsheet technique to evaluate the impact of the delayed royalty framework on onshore petroleum investment. The 1993 PSC fiscal framework was used to develop the economic models. The delayed royalty framework was incorporated into one of the models. The delay in royalty payment hinged on the payout period of the investment. It was observed that the delayed royalty framework increased the contractor’s revenue during the period of low oil price. Thus, increasing the sustainability of the investment during period of low oil price.