Project slated for completion within 36 months as state targets jobs, energy security, and industrial growth….
The Edo State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have agreed to jointly develop a 10,000 barrels-per-day condensate refinery, with completion projected within 24 to 36 months.
Details of the agreement were contained in a statement released Thursday in Benin City by Patrick Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
According to the state government, the refinery will be sited across Oredo and Orhionmwon Local Government Areas and is expected to strengthen local refining capacity, improve fuel availability, and reinforce Edo State’s industrial development.
The initiative forms part of wider efforts to expand domestic refining, cut dependence on imported petroleum products, and stimulate economic growth through collaboration between subnational governments and national energy institutions.
Speaking on the development, the Edo State Government said the project would contribute significantly to job creation, poverty reduction, and energy security, while supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Governor Monday Okpebholo welcomed the investment, stating that his administration remains focused on creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty. He also assured investors of the state’s commitment to providing a secure and business-friendly environment, adding that the government would offer full institutional and logistical backing to ensure the project’s successful delivery.
For decades, Nigeria has relied heavily on imported refined petroleum products despite being Africa’s largest crude oil producer, largely due to limited domestic refining capacity and underperforming state-owned refineries. In response, successive governments have pursued policies aimed at boosting local refining through public-private partnerships and subnational initiatives.
Following its commercialisation under the Petroleum Industry Act, NNPC Limited has increasingly focused on investment-led downstream projects to expand refining output, while state governments continue to position themselves as industrial hubs by leveraging land, infrastructure, and regulatory support to attract energy investments.
Within this broader push for decentralised industrial growth, Edo State’s partnership with NNPC reflects a growing focus on strengthening energy infrastructure at the subnational level.
When completed, the refinery is expected to significantly improve fuel supply within Edo and neighbouring states. The facility is projected to produce about 20 truckloads of Premium Motor Spirit daily, alongside an additional 10 truckloads of Automotive Gas Oil, serving both local demand and surrounding markets to ease supply pressures across the South-South region.
The project is also expected to stimulate supporting industries, including logistics, construction, and services, during and after its development phase, further strengthening Edo State’s industrial ecosystem and regional energy security.
The state government has pledged to provide land, Certificates of Occupancy, security, and other required logistics for the project, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting investments.
Chief Downstream Investment Officer of NNPC Limited, Ikedichi Dick-Nwoke, said the refinery would position Edo as a key energy and industrial hub in the South-South, boost investor confidence, and expand employment opportunities.
In March 2025, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority granted Eghudu Refinery Limited in Edo State a 100,000 barrels-per-day refining licence, marking another step in ongoing efforts to expand domestic refining capacity and drive economic development through strategic public-sector collaboration.
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