NMDPRA issues licenses for new refineries in Edo, Delta, Abia
The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has granted refining licences to three companies for the establishment of new refineries in Abia, Delta, and Edo States.
These upcoming refineries are projected to add a combined refining capacity of 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Nigeria’s domestic refining sector.
An official post by the NMDPRA on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that the companies that have received licences include Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo State, which has been awarded a 100,000 bpd refining licence; MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta State, which has been granted a 30,000 bpd licence; and HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd in Abia State, which has been issued a 10,000 bpd licence.
The statement further disclosed that the Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, presented a Licence to Construct a 100,000 bpd refinery to Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo State, a Licence to Establish a 30,000 bpd refinery to MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta State, and a Licence to Establish a 10,000 bpd refinery to HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd in Abia State.
It added that these licences, which will contribute 140,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, were officially presented to the Managing Directors of the respective companies.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reveals that Nigeria currently has nine operational refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Port Harcourt Refinery Company Limited, Aradel Refinery, OPAC Refineries, Waltersmith Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Duport Midstream Company Limited, and Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company. Collectively, these refineries have a total refining capacity of 974,500 bpd, with the Dangote Refinery accounting for the largest share at 650,000 bpd.
Despite these figures, many refineries are operating below full capacity due to various challenges. According to NUPRC, the nine existing refineries will require a combined daily crude supply of 770,500 barrels and a total of 123.48 million barrels for the first half of 2025.
With more refineries under construction and licenced by the NMDPRA, Nigeria’s refining capacity is expected to expand further, reducing the nation’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
