
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has approved a licence for MRO Energy Limited to construct a 10,000 barrels per stream day refinery in Imode, Ughelli, Delta State. This marks another step in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
The approval comes just two months after a similar licence was granted to Process Design and Development Limited for a 27,000 barrels per day refinery in Gombe State. With this latest development, Nigeria now boasts 11 modular and regular refineries. However, challenges remain as several of these facilities are not operating at full capacity.

According to the NMDPRA, domestic refining has been allocated 770,500 barrels per day to meet local demand. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to increasing energy security, reducing costs associated with fuel imports, and creating jobs in the downstream petroleum sector.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria recently announced plans for a 50,000 barrels per day refinery, further signaling a drive to boost domestic production. Yet, with operational inefficiencies plaguing existing refineries, achieving self-sufficiency in refining remains a critical challenge.