The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), acting on behalf of the Federal Government, has authorized the construction of a new refinery in Delta State, according to a report published in The Punch.
The license was issued to MRO Energy Limited for the establishment of a 10,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD) refinery in Imode, Ughelli.
This move aligns with ongoing efforts to boost Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Announcing the development on its official X handle, NMDPRA stated, “The Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, presented a License to Establish a 10,000 Barrels Per Stream Day Refinery at Imode in Ughelli, Delta State, to MRO Energy Limited.”
Notably, a similar license was granted two months ago to Process Design and Development Limited for a 27,000 BPSD refinery in Gombe State.
Currently, Nigeria has approximately 11 modular and standard refineries, though many of them are either non-operational or underperforming.
To tackle the nation’s refining challenges, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association has collaborated with stakeholders to develop a 50,000 BPSD refinery.
Despite these efforts, Nigeria’s domestic refining target of 770,500 barrels per day remains unmet, highlighting the need for further progress in the sector.