The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Chinese companies as part of efforts to restart and optimise operations at Nigeria’s Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The agreement, signed in Jiaxing, brings together the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited as well as Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd under a proposed Technical Equity Partnership framework.
The collaboration is expected to focus on completing outstanding rehabilitation work at the refineries and ensuring efficient operation and maintenance to deliver sustainable, high-performance output.
It also includes plans to upgrade and expand the facilities to meet cleaner fuel standards, improve profitability, and increase petrochemical production capacity.
Beyond refining, the partnership aims to unlock additional value through gas utilisation and the development of integrated industrial hubs around the refinery sites.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the agreement as a significant milestone following months of technical and commercial engagements between the parties.
He noted that all stakeholders have identified strong opportunities to enhance the long-term viability and profitability of Nigeria’s refining assets, while also supporting broader downstream and gas-based industrial development.
According to him, the MoU sets the stage for identifying credible technical partners to support the full restart and expansion of the refineries, with further agreements expected subject to regulatory approvals and continued negotiations.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen domestic refining capacity in Nigeria and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.