The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, while speaking at a workshop in Abuja said that the decline in Nigeria’s refineries is partly due to the absence of Nigerian engineers in the construction and repair of the refineries in the first place.
Driving the news
The Minister disclosed the signing of Executive Order 5 by President Buhari; a law that empowers Nigeria technologically, positioning it as a self-sufficient country, would bring development to the country.
Current situation of Nigeria’s refineries
- The five Nigerian refineries in the country have a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day.
- Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Plant have a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, New Port Harcourt Refinery can produce 150,000 per day, while the Kaduna and old Port Harcourt refineries are defunct. The NNPC spent N100 billion in 2021 on the rehabilitation of these refineries.
- Both the Warri refinery and the new Port Harcourt refinery operate at 30% of its capacity.
Dangote Refinery
Dangote oil refinery, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is projected to begin operations from the second half of the year. The refinery will meet Nigeria’s refined products needs with extra products to export.