NNPC Sets June 2026 Deadline to Seal New Refinery Partnerships as Nigeria Targets Global Standards
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has set June 2026 as the deadline to select technical partners for its long-struggling state-owned refineries, marking a decisive shift after years of stalled rehabilitation efforts. GCEO Bayo Ojulari, speaking in Abuja, acknowledged that the country had lost critical refining expertise over time, leaving the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries far behind global performance standards.
Ojulari explained that the new strategy would prioritise partnerships with private entities that own and operate successful refineries, insisting that only firms with verifiable track records would qualify. He noted that while rehabilitation works continue, the refineries remain commercially uncompetitive—especially when compared with the modern Dangote Refinery, which is already producing Euro-V grade fuels.
He also revealed that NNPCL may redesign the facilities into hybrid plants capable of meeting international product specifications. According to him, the company will announce firm completion dates only after finalising redesign and hybridisation plans. However, by mid-2026, NNPCL expects to have fully defined these partnerships and created a clear roadmap for refinery completion.
Beyond the refineries, Ojulari highlighted the company’s broader operational gains, including a record N5.4 trillion profit after tax for 2024 and ongoing efforts to raise Nigeria’s oil production to 1.7 million barrels per day by the end of the year. He stressed that NNPCL’s new status as a commercial entity under the Petroleum Industry Act is enabling stronger investor confidence, improved governance, and better project execution across the industry.
The GCEO credited NNPCL’s workforce—over 12,000 direct and indirect employees—for driving the company’s turnaround, pointing to ongoing investments in technical capacity and staff development. He emphasised that the company’s long-term ambition is to become one of the continent’s most competitive energy players, strengthened by transparent partnerships and a renewed commitment to operational excellence.
source: punch