Nearly a year after shutting down the Port Harcourt Refinery for maintenance, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has signed a new agreement with two Chinese firms to fast-track the rehabilitation and restart of its Port Harcourt and Warri facilities.
The deal, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, was signed in China on April 30, 2026. It introduces a technical equity partnership model aimed at completing ongoing work and ensuring long-term efficiency.
The Port Harcourt plant, which shut down on May 24, 2025, had only briefly resumed operations months earlier after a $1.5bn upgrade. Alongside the Warri refinery, both plants have a combined production capacity of 335,000 barrels per day.
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Under the new arrangement, the Chinese partners are expected to provide not just technical expertise but also investment and operational support. The collaboration will extend beyond repairs to include full operation, maintenance, and possible expansion of the facilities to meet modern fuel standards.
NNPC said the partnership could also lead to the development of gas-based industrial hubs and increased petrochemical production, turning the refineries into integrated energy centres.
Group CEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari described the agreement as a shift from past contractor-driven repairs to a performance-based model where partners share risks and rewards.
While discussions are ongoing, any final agreement will depend on regulatory approvals and detailed negotiations.
