NNPC Partners Chinese Firms to Revive Warri, Port Harcourt Refineries
By Victor Idajili
NNPC Limited has signed a deal with two Chinese companies to speed up the rehabilitation and restart of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Jiaxing City, China. Group CEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari led the NNPC delegation to the ceremony.
The agreement brings NNPC into a Technical Equity Partnership with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd. Sanjiang Chairman Guan Jianzhong and Xinganchen Chairman Bill Bi signed on behalf of the Chinese firms.
Under the deal, the Chinese partners will provide technical expertise, engineering support, and industrial park management services to help get the two refineries back into operation. NNPC will keep ownership of the assets and maintain oversight to ensure the project aligns with Nigeria’s energy security goals.
The Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have been out of full service for years despite several attempts at rehabilitation. Government has been pushing to cut fuel imports by restoring local refining capacity.
Industry watchers say the new partnership signals a shift toward performance-based deals that tie technical execution to clear results. The model is expected to improve efficiency and fast-track the refineries’ return to production.
No specific restart dates were announced at the signing, but officials described the MoU as a key first step toward long-term operational recovery.
The move fits into NNPC’s wider reform plan to rebuild downstream infrastructure, reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, and position Nigeria as a regional refining hub.
