IOCs to revamp Nigerian refineries

ABUJA, March 30, 2016 – Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) group managing director Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu late on Tuesday said discussions were underway with Chevron, Eni and Total on rehabilitating Nigeria’s ageing refineries.

Targeting outdated facilities in Port Hartcourt, Warri and Kaduna, the talks are part of NNPC’s drive to privatise three refineries after repairs. “We have gotten commitments from some of the majors. Agip [Eni] has indicated interest to work with us on Port Harcourt, Chevron on Warri […] We are talking to Total on Kaduna,” Kachikwu said on Tuesday, adding that NNPC hopes to finalise the privatisation efforts within 12 months.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kachikwu was forced to make a public apology amidst biting fuel shortages that have plagued the country in recent weeks, vowing to make the long cues a thing of the past.

In January, NNPC was forced to shut down the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries over supply issues. While the Warri and Kaduna plants remain closed, the Port Harcourt facility was restarted in earlier in March. According to Kachikwu, repairs on the pipeline feeding Warri have recently been completed.

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