Sector licencesEnergyNigeria
License an LPG (cooking gas) plant (NMDPRA)
Build and operate an LPG retail/storage plant under NMDPRA's three-stage downstream regime: Licence to Establish (site suitability, 18 months) → Approval/Licence to Construct (30 months) → Licence to Operate. Distinct from a petrol filling station licence.
- Procedure
- 4steps
- Coordination
- 3agencies
- Category
- Sector licencesEnergy
Task links
Go to the exact next page
Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.
Routing map
Who you will deal with
Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)NMDPRAApplicant; NMDPRA inspectors
Procedure
The steps, in order
Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.
01 Licence to Establish (site suitability)
- Agency
- Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)
- What is required
- Apply for the Licence to Establish so the site is assessed before capital is committed. Valid 18 months. Processing fee by storage capacity: ₦105,000 (0.1-5MT), ₦205,000 (5.1-10MT), ₦305,000 (10.1-60MT).
- Documents
- CAC certificate; MEMART; site layout; survey; processing fee
- Typical timeline
- Valid 18 months
02 Approval/Licence to Construct (ATC)
- Agency
- NMDPRA
- What is required
- Apply for the Licence to Construct with town-planning approval for the location, a Nigeria Police report and a State Fire Service report, approved building plan, standards and codes, EIA and NRS tax clearance. Valid 30 months; construction proceeds subject to inspections.
- Documents
- Town planning approval; police report; fire service report; approved building plan; EIA; TCC
- Typical timeline
- Valid 30 months
03 Construct and install to code
- Agency
- Applicant; NMDPRA inspectors
- What is required
- Build the plant to the LPG guidelines - tank foundations and separation distances, safety devices, fire-fighting equipment, earthing, and calibrated dispensing/filling equipment - with witnessed tests and inspections.
- Documents
- Witnessed tank/pressure tests; safety installations
- Typical timeline
- Construction period
04 Licence to Operate (LTO)
- Agency
- NMDPRA
- What is required
- Obtain the Licence to Operate before selling gas to the public: submit as-built documents and evidence of installed safety devices and pay the LTO processing fee (an additional ₦200,000, with the service charge at ₦10,000 - e.g. ₦310,000 for 0.1-5MT, ₦410,000 for 5.1-10MT). Fees are subject to NMDPRA revision.
- Documents
- As-built documents; safety devices; LTO fee
- Typical timeline
- Before commencing sales