Recently an agency of government alleged that Dangote Refinery is pushing for a monopoly, but findings show that there are 26 other refineries spread across Nigeria, which have operating licences from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) formerly known as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
This means if all the refineries are active and functional as expected and the government plays its regulatory role, it may be difficult for one company to dominate the oil and gas sector in the country.
Note: bpsd means Barrel Per Stream Day
Below is a list of four government and 23 private refineries in Nigeria, production capacity, and their year of commissioning:
Government-owned
Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Port Harcourt I)
- Owner: Federal Government
- Capacity: 60,000 bpsd
- Commissioning: 1965
- Location: Alesa Eleme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
The old Port Harcourt Refinery is the first indigenous refinery in Nigeria after when Nigeria discovered its first oil commercial in 1965 in Oloibiri, a village in the old Rivers State (the village is now in the present day Bayelsa State). And in 1958, Nigeria exported its first cargo of cruel oil.
Warri Refinery
- Owner: Federal Government
- Capacity: 125,000 bpsd
- Date of commissioning: 1978
- Location: Ubeji Community, Uvwie Council Area, Delta State
New Port Harcourt Refinery (Port Harcourt II)
- Owner: Federal Government
- Capacity: 150,000 bpsd
- Date of commissioning: 1989
- Location: Alesa-Eleme, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Kaduna refinery
- Owner: Federal Government
- Capacity: 110,000 bpsd
- Date of commissioning: 1980
- Location: Kachia road, Kaduna State
Private refineries
Even with the existence of government refineries, Nigeria relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products to meet local demands, leading to campaign and push to invite private investors into the oil and gas sector.
One of such moves was the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill by The Senate and the House of Representatives on July 15 and July 16, 2021, respectively. And on August 16, 2021, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Bill into law, which is now known as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The new Act replaced the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The NUPRC not only monitors the oil and gas industry to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and laws, they also issue operating licence to private refineries.
Below is the list of private refineries licenced by NUPRC:
OPAC Refineries
- Founder: Momoh Jimah Oyarekhua
- Location: Umuseti, Kwale, Delta State
- Capacity: 10,000 bpd
- Date of commissioning: 2021
Waltersmith Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited
- Founder: Abdulrazaq Isa
- Date of commissioning: November 24, 2020 (Phase 1)
- Combined capacity: 50,000 bpd
- Location: Ibigwe, Imo State
Dangote Oil Refinery Company
- Founder: Alhaji Aliko Dangote
- Location: Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos State
- Combined capacity: 650,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Date of commissioning: May 22, 2023
Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (Train 3)
- Founder: Mr Ladi Jadesimi
- Location: Ogbele, Rivers State
- Capacity: 11,000 bpd
Lowrie Refinery Limited
- Founder: Festus Alani
- Location: Ika North LGA, Delta
- Combined capacity: 5,000 bdp
Excel Refinery Limited
- Founder: Abiodun Awosika
- Location: Peretorugbene Community, Ekeremor L.G., Bayelsa State
- Capacity: 5,000 bpsd
Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited
- Owners: Michael Osime/AIPCC Energ
- Location: Ikpoba-Okha L.G.A., Edo State
- Combined capacity: 6,000 bpsd
Conodit Refinery Nigeria Limited
- Founder: Uchejim Clement Wato
- Location: Umukwata, Delta State
- Combined capacity: 320,000 bpd
Clairgold Oil & Gas Engineering Limited
- Location: Koko, Delta
- Capacity: 20,000 bpsd
Ogini Refinery Limited
- Location: Ogini, Kwale, Delta State
- Capacity: 5,000 bpsd
Duport Midstream
- Location: Egbokor, Orhionmwon L.G.A., Edo State
- Combined capacity: 10,000 bpd
Etopo Energy Plc
- Capacity: 30,000 bpsd
- Location: Burutu, Delta State
Gasoline Associates International Limited
- Location: Ipokia, Ogun State
NPDC/ND WESTERN OML 34 JV
- Capacity: 10,000 bpsd
- Location: OML 34 field, Ughelli East, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State
Frao Oil Nigeria Limited
- Capacity: 12,000 bpsd
- Location: Uzere, Delta State
Resource Petroleum & Petrochemicals International Incorporated
- Capacity: 100,000 bpsd
- Location: Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State
Kingdom Global Trading Petroleum & Gas Nig. Ltd.
- Founder: Olori Family
- Location: Okwagbe, Ughelli South L.G.A, Delta State
- Capacity: 12,000 bpsd
Amakpe International Refineries Limited
- Location: Ikot Usoekong Site, Along Eket-Oron Road, Akwa Ibom
- Combined capacity: 12,000 Barrels per Day
Atlantic International Refineries and Petrochemical Limited
- Founder: Dr. Akintoye Akindele
- Location: Okpoama, Brass, Bayelsa State
- Capacity: 2,000 bpd
Gazingstock Petroleum Company Limited
- Founder: Mr Godwin Gbubene-Abraham
- Capacity: 5,000 bpsd
- Location: Abalagada Community, Ndokwa East LGA, Delta State
Allegiance Energy and Power Limited
- Location: Esit EketAkwa, Akwa Ibom State
Alexis Refinery Limited
- Location: Aboh, Ndokwa East L.G.A, Delta State
- Combined capacity: 10, 000 bpd
- Date of commissioning: 2022
Azikel Petroleum Limited
- Founder: Dr. Eruani Azibapu Godbless
- Location: Obunagha, Yenagoa L.G.A, Bayelsa State
- Capacity: 12,000