What we’re doing to get Nigeria’s refineries back on track — NNPC’s Ojulari

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has assured Nigerians that the company is taking deliberate steps to restore full operations at the country’s three major refineries located in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna.

Ojulari, in an X post on Wednesday, said the NNPC remains committed to repositioning Nigeria’s refineries for optimal performance and sustainability through a comprehensive technical and commercial review.

“We are filled with determination! We are looking ahead with optimism to ensure our refineries operate effectively,” Ojulari said. “We are dedicating significant time to a detailed review and are eager to implement our insights.”

According to him, “What fuels our drive is the understanding that the prosperity of the Nigerian states and the future success of Nigeria will always take precedence over any individual interests. This very commitment inspires us as we anticipate creating sustainable solutions for our refineries in the near future.”

Sharing further updates, the NNPC boss revealed that the company is currently in the technical and commercial review stage of the three refineries.

The stage, he added, involves a comprehensive assessment of the three refineries to determine the best course of action for high-grading or repurposing them as needed.

The NNPC boss noted that the next phase of the project would focus on forming “advanced technical partnerships” with select technical equity partners who have a track record of operating refineries to international standards.

In addition to the rehabilitation process, Ojulari said the company is also integrating the project into “National Energy Strategy, with emphasis on “energy security and asset optimisation.”

According to him, the strategy is designed to ensure that NNPC maintains the capacity to meet the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) requirements as the supplier of last resort for petroleum products while ensuring efficient and profitable refinery operations.

Ojulari reaffirmed that the company is repositioning itself as a commercially driven and transparent energy enterprise, focused on delivering value to Nigerians. “We’re repositioning as a commercially driven, transparent energy company serving Nigerians,” Ojulari stated.