Sensitivity and Scenario-Based Assessment of Petroleum Investment Resilience Under Nigeria’s PIA 2021 Fiscal Regime

Authors

  • Kalagbor, Christian New Brunswick Power Corporation, Canada
  • Aleruchi, B. Oriji Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  • Asianuba B. Ifeoma Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54536/ajenr.v5i1.8783

Keywords:

Investment Resilience, Petroleum Industry Act, Petroleum Investment, Scenario Base Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis, Upstream Oil & Gas Sector

Abstract

The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 introduced a revised fiscal framework aimed at improving investment attractiveness and strengthening transparency and revenue generation in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector. However, petroleum investment projects are exposed to uncertainties from market factors, economic, and operational conditions, creating the need to access the upstream oil and gas petroleum investment resilience under the PIA 2021 fiscal regime. Using a Python-based Economic Evaluation and Investment Decision Support Tool (EEIDST) which was built by incorporating the fiscal provisions of PIA 2021, sensitivity and scenario-base analyses were conducted to examine the effects of varying the prices of crude oil and natural gas, hydrocarbon production, CAPEX, and OPEX on Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Profitability Index (PI), Payback Period, and Government Take. The results from the sensitivity analysis showed that crude oil and hydrocarbon production are key drivers of project economic performance. At the base-case oil price of US$70/bbl, the project generated an NPV of $83.78 million, but at an oil price of $80/bbl, the NPV increased to $130.51 million, while it reduced to $26.95 million at an oil price of $60/bbl. Similarly, a 20% increase in the production relative to the base-case, generated a positive NPV of $127.47 million, which decreased to $30.73 million when production declined by 20%. The findings in this study indicates that the investment resilience of PIA 2021 is highly responsive to fluctuations in prices of crude oil and production. This study quantitatively evaluates the resilience of petroleum investment projects, which could be applied by stakeholders in the upstream oil and gas sector.

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Author Biographies

  • Aleruchi, B. Oriji, Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

     Prof. Aleruchi Boniface Oriji, is a distinguished Nigerian Petroleum and Gas Engineering scholar, researcher, and industry expert with over 30 years of combined experience in academia and the global oil and gas industry. He is a Professor of Petroleum and Gas Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), specializing in drilling engineering, well completion, drilling fluids technology, and high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) well operations. Currently, he is the Director of Emerald Energy Institute and Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF) Gas Chair Occupant. 

  • Asianuba B. Ifeoma, Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Dr. Ifeoma Benardine Asianuba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, a Master’s degree in Electronic/Telecommunication Engineering, and a PhD in Communication Engineering. Her research interests include wireless and mobile communication networks, Internet of Things (IoT), antennas, fibre-optic communications, and emerging 5G technologies. She has published research in peer-reviewed journals and continues to contribute to the development of innovative communication and smart technology solutions. Dr. Asianuba is a registered professional engineer and a member of professional engineering organizations, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

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Published

2026-10-23

How to Cite

Kalagbor, C., Aleruchi, B. O., & Asianuba , B. I. (2026). Sensitivity and Scenario-Based Assessment of Petroleum Investment Resilience Under Nigeria’s PIA 2021 Fiscal Regime. American Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 5(1), 65-75. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajenr.v5i1.8783

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