The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has entered into a new agreement with two Chinese companies aimed at restarting and expanding the country’s refining capacity.
The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd under a Technical Equity Partnership (TEP) framework. The deal is expected to support the completion, operation, and long-term maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery and Warri Refinery.
The agreement was formalised in Jiaxing City, China, with NNPC’s Group CEO, Bashir Ojulari, alongside the Chinese partners’ executives.
Ojulari said the partnership would focus on completing outstanding work on both refineries while ensuring efficient operations that meet global performance standards. He added that the project would also involve upgrading the facilities to produce cleaner and more profitable petroleum products.
Beyond refinery rehabilitation, the collaboration is expected to expand petrochemical production and unlock gas-based industrial opportunities through the development of integrated industrial hubs around the facilities.
According to NNPC, the agreement follows over six months of negotiations and reflects a shared commitment by all parties to improve the long-term profitability and sustainability of Nigeria’s refining sector.
The MoU, however, represents a preliminary step, with final agreements to be concluded after further discussions and regulatory approvals.
