NNPC, Chinese firms sign MoU to revive Warri, Port Harcourt refineries

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two Chinese firms to explore a partnership for the completion and operation of the Port Har- court and Warri refineries.

The agreement was signed with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd in Jiaxing City, China, on April 30.

According to a statement issued by Andy Odeh, chief corporate communications, at NNPC, the proposed collaboration will be structured as a technical equity partnership.

The framework, the company said, will cover the completion of outstanding work at the refineries, as well as their operation and maintenance.

NNPC added that the partnership will also explore the expansion and upgrade of the facilities to improve efficiency and profitability.

Commenting on the deal, Bashir Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, said the agreement followed months of engagement between the parties.

All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria,” he said.

Ojulari said the MoU represents a step towards identifying technical partners to re- start and expand the refineries.

He added that the discussions will also cover the development of petrochemical capacity and gas-based industrial hubs around the facilities.

“The MoU is a significant step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partners to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries,” he said.

According to the statement, NNPC said the agreement reflects the intention of the parties to continue discussions, with final arrangements subject to approvals.

It will be recalled that on July 11, 2025, Ojulari said it is becoming a bit more com- plicated to revamp state-owned refineries.

Three months later, NNPC said it had commenced a comprehensive technical and commercial review of the moribund refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna.

In November last year, Olu Verheijen, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, said the federal government is open to selling the refineries of NNPC.