Nigeria’s state-owned oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, has signed a major agreement with two Chinese firms to restart and expand its key refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd in Jiaxing, China, on April 30, 2026. The deal aims to accelerate long-delayed rehabilitation work and improve refinery performance.
Under the agreement, the Chinese partners are expected to support the completion of ongoing upgrades and participate in the operation and maintenance of the facilities to ensure long-term efficiency and reliability.
The partnership also includes plans to expand the refineries, meet cleaner fuel standards, and increase petrochemical production. It could further drive the development of gas-based industrial hubs around the refinery locations.
NNPC says the deal marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s energy sector, although the agreement remains non-binding and subject to regulatory approvals and further negotiations.