NNPC Signs MoU with Chinese Firms to Revive, Expand Warri and Port Harcourt Refineries
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese firms—Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd—to advance the restart and expansion of Nigeria’s key refining assets.
The NNPC Chief Corporate Communications officer, Mr. Andy Odeh disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The agreement, signed in Jiaxing City, China, on April 30, 2026, is aimed at establishing a potential Technical Equity Partnership (TEP) to support the completion, operation, and long-term sustainability of the Port Harcourt Refinery and Warri Refinery.
NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, signed on behalf of the national oil company, while Chairmen Guan Jianzhong and Bill Bi represented Sanjiang Chemical and Xingcheng respectively.
According to a statement by NNPC, the proposed partnership framework will focus on completing outstanding rehabilitation work at both refineries, alongside their operation and maintenance to achieve globally competitive and sustainable performance standards.
The plan also includes expansion and upgrades designed to improve product quality, enhance profitability, and align output with cleaner energy standards. Additionally, the collaboration is expected to boost petrochemical production capacity and unlock gas-based industrial opportunities through the development of integrated industrial hubs around the refineries.
Ojulari described the MoU as a major milestone, noting that it followed over six months of intensive engagement between NNPC and the Chinese partners.
“All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria, and the collective weight required for success,” he said.
He added that the agreement represents a critical step toward identifying suitable technical equity partners to not only restart the refineries but also expand into petrochemical and gas-based industries.
NNPC emphasized that the MoU reflects a shared commitment by all parties to continue discussions in good faith, with final agreements subject to regulatory approvals and further negotiations.
The development comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on fuel imports and strengthen domestic refining capacity.
