The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has granted licenses to three oil companies to establish refineries in Edo, Delta, and Abia states.
The development is expected to add 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the country’s refining capacity.
Eghudu Refinery Limited, based in Edo State, has received approval to construct a 100,000 bpd refinery.
In Delta State, MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited has been permitted to set up a 30,000 bpd facility.
Meanwhile, HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited in Abia State has been granted a license for a 10,000 bpd refinery.
The regulatory authority’s chief executive, Farouk Ahmed, officially presented the licenses to representatives of the three companies.
This move is expected to increase local refining output and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
This is not the first time the NMDPRA has issued refinery licenses.
In August 2024, the authority granted an operational license to Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, allowing it to begin full operations.
Nigeria has several operational refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Warri Refinery, Kaduna Refinery, and Port Harcourt Refinery.
Despite having a total refining capacity of nearly one million bpd, many of these refineries do not operate at full capacity.
With the latest approvals, the government aims to expand domestic refining and improve the country’s energy sector.
