The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has stated that it is not in a hurry to restart operations at its dormant refineries, signalling a deliberate shift towards strengthening technical capacity, operational systems, and strategic partnerships before any resumption of production.
Refinery coordinator, Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this at an industry conference in Cape Town, where he stressed that the company is prioritising readiness over timelines, effectively ruling out any fixed date for the restart of its refining assets.
The development directly affects the Port Harcourt refinery with a capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, the Warri refinery at 125,000 barrels per day, and the Kaduna refinery at 110,000 barrels per day. All three facilities have remained largely inactive despite years of rehabilitation attempts and significant capital commitments.
Ojulari’s comments reflect a clear recalibration in NNPCL’s downstream strategy, moving away from hurried restarts towards a more structured model built on efficiency, competence, and long-term operational sustainability.
The shift comes at a time when Nigeria’s refining landscape is undergoing rapid change, largely driven by the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery, in which NNPCL holds a 7.25 per cent stake. The facility is currently operating at high capacity and reshaping domestic fuel supply dynamics.
Nigeria recently recorded a milestone by becoming a net exporter of petrol, a development linked to improved domestic refining output and reduced dependence on imported petroleum products.
NNPCL said it remains committed to the refining sector but is now focusing on attracting experienced partners with proven refinery management expertise, alongside building the right technical workforce and operational systems to support stable production.
Industry analysts say the cautious approach suggests the company is responding to past setbacks, where earlier restart efforts failed to achieve sustained output due to technical inefficiencies and operational disruptions.