By Ali Elias
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has granted three refinery licenses, adding a total of 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, NMDPRA announced that the newly licensed refineries include Eghudu Refinery Limited, which will produce 100,000 bpd; MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, with a capacity of 30,000 bpd; and HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, which will refine 10,000 bpd.
“The Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, presented a License to Construct a 100,000 bpd refinery to Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo State, a License to Establish a 30,000 bpd refinery to MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta State, and a License to Establish a 10,000 bpd refinery to HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd in Abia State,” the agency stated.
“These licenses, which would add 140,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, were presented to the MDs of the companies.”
The latest approvals align with the government’s efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products and strengthen local refining capacity.
In August 2024, NMDPRA had also issued an operational license to Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, located in Ologbo, Edo State. The regulator emphasized that this operational license marked the final stage of approval, officially allowing the plant to function as a fully operational refinery.