By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
JIAXING — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese enterprises to complete and operate the long-troubled Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The agreement, formalised in Jiaxing City on Thursday, April 30, 2026, brings together NNPCL, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited, and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd under a Technical Equity Partnership (TEP).
Representing the parties were NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari; Sanjiang’s Chairman, Guan Jianzhong; and Xingcheng’s Chairman, Bill Bi.
In a statement issued from Abuja, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said the framework focuses on completing outstanding construction work at both refineries, as well as ensuring their efficient operation and maintenance.
The goal is to achieve high-performance, sustainable output while bringing the facilities up to modern standards.
The collaboration also includes plans to upgrade and expand the refineries to produce cleaner, more commercially viable products.
Beyond refining, the partnership envisions boosting petrochemical production and tapping into gas and downstream opportunities through the development of integrated, gas-powered industrial hubs alongside the refineries.
Speaking after the signing, Engr. Ojulari described the breakthrough as the fruit of more than six months of intensive technical talks.
“All parties see strong mutual benefits in advancing Nigeria’s refining capabilities and ensuring long-term profitability,” he said, adding that the partnership combines the necessary expertise and resources to achieve these goals.
The MoU, he stressed, is a crucial step toward identifying suitable technical equity partners to revive and expand the nation’s refining infrastructure, while unlocking opportunities in petrochemicals and gas-based industries. Final binding arrangements will be concluded later, subject to necessary approvals.
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