DPR Commences Electronic Issuance of Oil and Gas Industry Service Permits

Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it has finalized arrangements to launch electronic processing and issuance of statutory Oil and Gas Industry Service Permits (OGISP).

“This implies that applications for new permits and renewal of expiring ones will be submitted online with the required documents”, the regulator says in a release. “All things being equal, duly completed applications will be processed within 72 hours.”

The Oil and Gas Industry Service Permit is a statutory requirement for Nigerian registered companies seeking to render services in the oil and gas industry and are processed by the DPR under either the general, major or specialized categories.

The online application system will require applicants to log onto the DPR website www.dpr.gov.ng to create their company accounts from which the company can apply for different categories of permits upon completing the applicable forms.

All statutory fees remain unchanged; but, there shall be a nonrefundable processing fee of N500, N2, 500 and N7, 500 ($3.23, $16.17 and $48.47) charged for each of the three different categories of service permits respectively. (Payment of fees does not guarantee the issuance of permit). Payments could be made either through banks or via one of the acceptable debit/credit cards at one’s convenience.

“In addition to the online processing the DPR would continue to carry out due diligence on individual companies, especially those applying in the Major and Specialised categories”, the department declares. “Furthermore, a valid Offshore Safety Permit (OSP) continues to be a requirement for companies that provide service offshore”, the DPR adds.

“The Department wishes to state that the electronic application system for statutory permits is the beginning of digitalization of our entire licensing and permitting system geared to remove bottlenecks and ensure delivery of improved quality service”.