(Ecofin Agency) - Four international oil trading companies have joined 96 other companies bidding for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA), Vanguard reports.

The companies namely, Glencore, Vitol S.A, BP Oil international and Total Oil Trading S.A are to lift approximately 210,000 bbls of the country’s crude oil within a period of 12 months starting from the first month in 2016.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Emmanuel Kachikwu (picture), while speaking at the bid disclosed that it is the duty of the corporation to ensure that the process is both transparent and beneficial to the country.

He further explained that the OPAs are very crucial at this time when the country’s refineries are not producing up to the capacity expected.

NNPC hopes the best companies emerge, as that will put an end to the process of bidding for OPA also adding that it has interest in companies with global recognition, access to refineries and have solid investments in the country.