In this post, we explained in details the DPR Requirements & Guidelines for Import & Export Petroleum Products Permit. Import/Export Permit (IMPEX) eligibility, Import/Export Permit fees, required documents, how to apply Import/Export Permit, Vessel Arrival, Conditions for Cargo Discharge at the Jetties and more.
What is Import & Export Petroleum Products Permit in Nigeria?
Import & Export Petroleum Products License/ Permit is a permit an organization must have in order to Import & Export Petroleum Products Permit in or from Nigeria. It is issued and manage be The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
Read: AGO and PMS Import License Requirements
Who is eligible for DPR Import & Export Permit?
All companies duly registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as providers of goods and services in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas Industry are eligible to apply for DPR Downstream Licenses & Permits subject to having access to appropriate Storage Facilities which could be owned or leased from third parties.
What is IMPEX?
Import/Export Permit (IMPEX) is the acronym for Import Export Permit System developed to manage the life cycle of petroleum product importation and local supply from domestic refineries as well as exportation of some petroleum products.
Read: How to make Local Content (NOGIC JQS) registration
DPR Import/ Export Permit (IMPEX) functions:
- It handles electronic application processing and generation of permits for eligible company in respect of petroleum products supply from within and outside the country. Prospective applicants can either apply for a new permit, renewal or inclusion type of application.
- Inclusion Category: manages repeat application for un-utilized volume allocation to companies subject to evidence of same from PPPRA, provided such permit(s) is still active on the system.
- Renewal Category: manages renewal of permit(s) on the system, provided the status quo of such permit is same. This means same products, same quantities and same depots/banks.
- Notification and Recertification Module: manages vessel arrival notification, processing and issuance of certificate of quality and quantity for all processed notification.
DPR Required Documents for DPR Import & Export Permit
- A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the applicant’s company
- A copy of the company Article and Memorandum of Association
- A Copy of the current Storage/Sales license issued by the DPR (where applicable)
- A Bank reference with committed and explicit statements
- Tax Identification Number (TIN)
Read: How to Obtain OGISP DPR Permit
DPR Required Payable Fees for Import Permit
- An application fee of Seventy-Five Thousand Naira only (N75,000.00 / 30 MT)
- Processing fee of Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira only (N210, 000. 00 / Application)
Special Notice on Application for Petroleum Product Import Permit
- All documents submitted online would be verified and if found acceptable a permit will be issued to be applicant.
- Every import permit shall have a duration 90 days from the date of issue
- For every new application for a permit, the permit granted to a company for a previous importation would be recertified on System.
- All imported Petroleum Products must meet the National Quality Standard specifications as approved by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
- Each importer of petroleum products shall be required to submit returns on System on the previous importation for which was issued, upload copies of all relevant invoices and shipping documents, before any subsequent application for an Import Permit to be approved. Such documents to be uploaded on the portal shall include:
a. Relevant Invoices
b. Bill of Lading
c. Photocopy of Approved Form “M”
d. Clearance or import duty payment from Nigeria Customs & Excise
e. Import Clearance Form duly certified by DPR representative at the jetty.
f. Detail cargo information, such as direct shipment, ship-to-ship, name of mother vessel, certificate of quality, last port of call etc.
g. A copy of the “Certificate of Quantity” and “Certificate of Quality” of previous imported and delivered products duly authenticated by DPR (to be made available (for renewal of Import Permit))
h. Evidence of utilization of the quantity of products for which import permit was previously granted
Read: How to obtain Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC)
Vessel Arrival Notification
Clearance of vessels for discharge at receiving facilities shall be duly implemented upon the importer notifying the Department of Petroleum Resources at least 7 days prior to the arrival of the vessel at a Nigerian Port and providing the following documents at the designated online portal:
- Certificate of Quality of the consignment issued by the exporting refinery or a competent authority in the country of origin is submitted to the DPR
- Copy of Certificate of Quantity
- Copy of “Form M” raised for the transaction
- Copy of Letter of Credit for the transaction
- Letter from a bank attesting that the transaction was funded through the bank
- Copies of all relevant invoices
- Copy of Cargo Manifest
- Copy of Ullage Report
An importer shall pay a Vessel Notification processing fee of Two Hundred & Twenty Thousand Naira only (N220,000:00) to the Department of Petroleum Resources through the designated electronic payment system on the Petroleum Product Import Permit electronic portal of the Department.
Conditions for Cargo Discharge at the Jetties
A vessel laden with imported Petroleum Products shall only be allowed to discharge at the indicated jetty where:
- There is an evidence of import permit for the product.
- The imported product has been fiscalised in the presence of a DPR official
- A re-certification analysis of the product composite sample is conducted in the presence of a DPR official and the result certified on- spec.
A Vessel shall therefore not Discharge until the Laboratory Re-certification of a Product is conducted
4. Documents received from the vessel are not in conflict with those earlier uploaded by importer of the product
A Certificate of Quantity will be issued by the DPR representative that witnessed the Discharge based on the shore tank receipts from the vessel.
Read: How to register on NipeX & Requirements
Product Certification for Forex Returns
For product certification to importers that utilized CBN funded FOREX, the following documents must be submitted on online for processing of product discharge certification letter to CBN.
- Copy of import permit used for the cargo
- Bill of lading (Mother/Daughter Vessel)
- Certificate of Quantity (Mother/Daughter Vessels)
- Certificate of Quality
- Letter from financing bank (addressed to DPR)
- Copy of Form M
- vii. Invoices (Proforma & Commercial)
- viii. Letter from Supplier (Addressed to DPR)
- Sovereign Debt Guarantee (SDG)
- Vessel Report/clearance form (Issued by DPR)
- Certificate of Quantity issued by DPR at discharge point
- xii. Returns on product importation for which permit was granted, including DPR endorsed copies of trucking records and bank records of collections
Documents would be verified and if found satisfactory, a Product certification letter will be issued.
Miscellanous
- An importer shall be charged an expeditionary fee of One Hundred & Sixty Five Thousand only
(N165, 000:00) upon any variation of Vessel arrival from the approved Vessel Arrival Date
Scheduled with the Department of Petroleum Resources
- The Director of Department of Petroleum Resources shall propose an appropriate
Administrative fee for payment by an importer for the breach of any Provisions of these
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How to Apply for Import & Export Permit
A company looking to import petroleum resources should begin by an application made through the Import/Export Permit (IMPEX) portal of the Department of Petroleum Resources official website at www.dpr.gov.ng.
The Import/Export Permit (IMPEX) has 4 user categories of the system. These are the Admin (DPR), Importers, Depot Owners and Banks.
Upon application the following documents should be attached:
- A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the company
- A copy of the memorandum and article of association
- A copy of the current storage facility
- Tax identification number
- A bank reference/ statement
The applicant will then proceed to pay the following fees for application:
- An application fee of N75, 000 (Seventy-Five Thousand Naira)
- A processing fee of N210,00 (Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira)
All the online submitted documents will be verified and if acceptable then a permit will be issued
For an importer who has been issued a previous import permit, such importer would be required to submit returns on the system on which previous import permit was granted, with uploaded copies of all relevant invoices and shipping documents such as Bill of Lading, photocopy of approved Form M, clearance or import duty payment, detail cargo information etc before subsequent application for import permit can be approved.
Thus, any company that meets the above guidelines as provided by the Department of Petroleum Resources can submit an application for Petroleum Product Import Permit after creating an account on the Import-Export Permit System (IMPEX).
Online Import & Export Petroleum Products Permit Application Steps:
- Access the portal through https://impex.dpr.gov.ng. There is also a link from the department of petroleum resources website https://elps.dpr.gov.ng. The portal is accessible from any internet connected device. There are 4 user categories of the system. These are the Admin (DPR), Importers, Depot Owners and Banks. However depending on the user’s category the above login screen will always be the same during login session.
- Add the products to the application, as many products to be required, as long as each product meets the application to be processed.
- Select the bank and the preferred means of payment and proceed to payment using the payment channels available. The bank will upload their reference letter or any financial document to support the application for the permit.
- Upon that the applicant can then submit the application for processing
- The applicant will be notified on the portal with the contact details provided whether the application is approved, denied or rejected.