Algeria, Angola Export More Oil To U.S.

ALGERIA and Angola are fast becoming Africa's leading oil exporters to the United States of America, following the economic-crippling activities of militants in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. The Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas basin, has been a flashpoint since 2002 when the re-election politics of some former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the area, became a gun-boat politics.

The current insurgency took roots in 2004, when the aggrieved armed youths of the oil and gas region took to the creeks, causing global oil prices to hit the roofs. As at today, well-informed Nigeria National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC) sources in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, are claiming that Nigeria's oil production has been reduced by some 40 per cent following the activities of armed militias in the region.

The U.S. as at 2006, is said to be importing more crude oil from Africa than it does from the Middle East. Available Energy Information Administration data tend to show that in 2006, Africa pumped 2.23 million barrels per day into the U.S. market. This, according to industry watchers, marked the first time the U.S. received more oil from Africa than from the Middle East.

Middle Eastern imports have been declining for three consecutive years, although the area is still a big supplier to the U.S., providing some 2.22 million barrels per day.

However, two African oil giants--Algeria and Angola-- according to those who know better, are witnessing an impressive up-tick in the volume of crude oil exported to the U.S. For instance, in December 2006, crude oil bound for the U.S. market from Angola rose by 41 percent when compared to the year-earlier period. Angola, OPEC’s newest member, supplied an average of 513,000 barrels of crude per day throughout 2006. Meanw
hile, Algerian crude exports to the U.S. jumped by 57 percent to 357,000 barrels daily, its highest level since 1980. Algeria is also a big products supplier to the U.S. market, to which it provided about 300,000 barrels of products per day in 2006.

While other African producers are trending up, Nigeria, supposedly the giant of Africa, is going the other direction. Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest oil exporter saw a 3.2 percent decline in the volume of crude oil shipments to the U.S. in 2006, a reduction primarily due to violence in the Niger Delta.

But despite the militants uprising, Nigeria still shipped slightly more than one million barrels of crude per day. But Nigeria’s oil output remains about 20 percent below historic levels.Sources say it mighteven be worse this year if the demands of the people of the oil region are not met.

Generally, the peoples of the Niger Delta are demanding for enhanced oil revenue of not less than 50 per cent, abrogation of all unjust laws that that impoverish and dispossess them of their resources as well as environmental justice.

ENDS

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