The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has granted refining licenses to three companies to establish new refineries in Abia, Delta, and Edo States, increasing the country’s domestic refining capacity.
According to an official announcement by NMDPRA on X, the newly licensed projects include a 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery by Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo State, a 30,000 bpd refinery by MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta State, and a 10,000 bpd refinery by HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd in Abia State. These facilities, once completed, will add a total refining capacity of 140,000 bpd to Nigeria’s oil sector.
The NMDPRA stated: “The Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, presented a License to construct a 100,000 bpd refinery to Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo State, a License to establish a 30,000 bpd refinery to MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta State, and a License to establish a 10,000 bpd refinery to HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd in Abia State. These licenses will enhance Nigeria’s refining capacity by an additional 140,000 bpd.”
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) indicates that Nigeria currently has nine operational refineries, including Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company, and Port Harcourt Refinery Company Limited. Others are Aradel Refinery, OPAC Refineries, Waltersmith Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Duport Midstream Company Limited, and Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company.
These refineries collectively have a refining capacity of 974,500 bpd, with the Dangote Refinery alone accounting for 650,000 bpd. However, many of these refineries are not currently operating at full capacity. According to the NUPRC, meeting the demand for crude supply in the first half of 2025 will require 770,500 bpd and 123.48 million barrels of crude oil over six months.
