Full List of Petroleum Refineries in Nigeria and Their Locations

Nigeria is blessed with a wealth of natural resources, with crude oil standing out as the backbone of the nation’s economy. As the largest producer of crude oil in Africa and the 13th largest globally, Nigeria has established itself as a significant player in the global energy market. The refining of crude oil into useful products such as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, is carried out at several refineries across the country.

Contents

In this article, we’ll explore all the operational petroleum refineries in Nigeria, highlighting their capacities, locations, and contributions to the country’s oil industry.

Refineries in Nigeria and Their Locations

1. Dangote Refinery (Lekki, Lagos State)

The Dangote Refinery is a groundbreaking project that was officially inaugurated on May 22, 2023. Located in Lekki, Lagos State, it is expected to revolutionize the oil refining industry in Nigeria.

Capacity: Once fully operational, this facility will process up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it the largest single-train refinery in the world.
Investment: Built with a staggering $19 billion, the refinery reflects private sector innovation in addressing Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.

The Dangote Refinery is poised to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign imports, while creating jobs and boosting the economy.

2. Port Harcourt Refinery (Rivers State)

The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) consists of two separate refineries located in Alesa-Eleme, Rivers State.

Capacity: The older refinery, built in 1965, has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the newer refinery, built in 1989, processes 150,000 bpd, for a combined total of 210,000 bpd.
Products: The PHRC produces a range of refined products, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), PMS, diesel, kerosene, and fuel oil, using Bonny Light crude oil.

3. Warri Refinery (Delta State)

The Warri Refinery, operated by the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), is located in Ekpan, Warri, Delta State.

Capacity: Initially built in 1978 with a capacity of 100,000 bpd, it was later upgraded to 125,000 bpd.
Special Features: This refinery not only produces refined petroleum products but also operates petrochemical plants that manufacture polypropylene and carbon black.

The Warri Refinery plays a key role in meeting the energy needs of southern Nigeria.

4. Kaduna Refinery (Kaduna State)

Situated in Kaduna State, this refinery is managed by the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).

Capacity: The refinery can process 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Unique Design: Unlike other refineries, it processes both domestic crude oil and imported heavy crude oil to produce a wide array of products, including lubricants, waxes, and asphalt.
Petrochemical Plant: In addition to fuel production, the refinery includes a petrochemical complex producing Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB), a key ingredient in detergents.

5. Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR) Refinery (Rivers State)

Located in Ogbelle, Rivers State, this is a smaller-scale refinery operated by the Niger Delta Exploration and Production (NDEP) Company.

Capacity: The refinery processes about 1,000 barrels per day.
Focus: It primarily produces diesel for local consumption, showcasing a model for smaller, community-focused refining projects.

Other Notable Facilities

Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals (Rivers State)

While not a refinery in the conventional sense, the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals facility in Rivers State plays a significant role in processing by-products from refineries to create polyethylene, polypropylene, and butene-1. These materials are essential for industrial applications and manufacturing.

Map of Nigerian Refineries

To help visualize the locations of these facilities:

Lagos State: Dangote Refinery
Rivers State: Port Harcourt Refinery, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals, NDPR Refinery
Delta State: Warri Refinery
Kaduna State: Kaduna Refinery

These strategic locations ensure coverage across key regions, enhancing energy distribution nationwide.

Final Thoughts

The oil refineries in Nigeria are important to the country’s economy, transforming crude oil into valuable products that power industries, households, and transportation. While challenges like underutilization and maintenance issues persist, projects like the Dangote Refinery offer hope for a more self-sufficient energy sector.

By understanding the role of each refinery, Nigerians can better appreciate the importance of refining capacity to national development.

If you’d like to explore related topics like the impact of crude oil exports or energy diversification strategies, feel free to check out our other articles.