‘Big business, low profile: Shedding light on oil trader Vitol’s operations in Nigeria’ 20 October 2020

Oil trading is generally characterised by limited transparency and challenging business environments. The weak rule of law in oil-producing countries has contributed to violent conflicts over the control of oil production and revenues. In several of these resource-rich countries, the combination of fragile institutions, high potential gains, and the opacity surrounding actual sales, has created an environment in which corruption thrives.

This report focuses specifically on Nigeria and explores the activities of Vitol, the largest independent oil trader in the world. It explores how much information on this company is available in the public domain, both on its economic activities in Nigeria and its associated human rights and environmental risks, as well as on the company’s due diligence for responsible business conduct.