NNPC Ltd Forges Bold Technical Equity Partnership with Chinese Firms to Revive Warri and Port Harcourt Refineries

In a decisive move to break the cycle of prolonged underperformance and costly repairs at Nigeria’s key refineries, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two leading Chinese industrial players: Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd.

The agreement, executed on April 30, 2026, in Jiaxing City, China, establishes a framework for a Technical Equity Partnership (TEP). This innovative collaboration aims to complete outstanding rehabilitation works, ensure reliable long-term operations, and drive sustainable, best-in-class performance at the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, signed on behalf of Nigeria alongside Guan Jianzhong, Chairman of Sanjiang Chemical Company, and Bill Bi, Chairman of Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park. NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, confirmed the development.

For decades, Nigeria’s refining sector has grappled with frequent breakdowns, expensive yet ineffective turnaround maintenance programs, and heavy reliance on imported petroleum products despite domestic crude production. The Port Harcourt Refinery (commissioned 1965, capacity ~210,000 barrels per day) and Warri Refinery (1978, ~125,000 bpd) — with a combined potential of 335,000 bpd — have remained largely idle, draining national resources.

This new TEP model shifts from traditional contractor-based maintenance to a deeper equity-oriented technical partnership. It positions the Chinese firms as strategic collaborators who will not only finish rehabilitation but also operate and maintain the facilities, while exploring co-located petrochemical projects and gas-based industries for broader value addition.

Ojulari described the MoU as a significant milestone following intensive technical engagements, expressing confidence that it will accelerate the restart and potential expansion of these strategic assets, ultimately enhancing Nigeria’s energy security and reducing dependence on imports.

The partnership underscores NNPC Ltd’s renewed drive for operational efficiency and international collaboration under a commercialized structure. Industry observers view it as a pragmatic step toward attracting expertise and investment capable of delivering results where previous efforts fell short.

While details of final equity shares, timelines, and funding mechanisms will emerge from further negotiations, the agreement signals strong momentum toward commercial production and positions Nigeria’s refining infrastructure for long-term competitiveness.