The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has disclosed that the Kaduna Refinery project has reached 81 per cent overall completion.
Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, made the disclosure at an event on Tuesday.
“Kaduna Refinery’s overall progress is 81.1% and we have broken it down into work packages. One thing that is peculiar about Kaduna Refinery is that even if the refinery reaches 100% completion, we also have to consider the state of the pipeline. So, obviously, that is another major project,” he stated.
Ahmed added that the development aligns with the Authority’s strategic focus on strengthening domestic refining capabilities, which is seen as critical to achieving long-term energy stability in Nigeria.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at not just reducing fuel imports but also protecting the economy from the frequent fluctuations of global crude oil prices.
Ahmed pointed out that the Kaduna refinery is one of several key assets being restored, alongside the Warri and Port Harcourt, along with private plants like the Dangote Refinery, which is increasing production.
He noted that the authority continues to oversee and support both modular and large-scale refinery projects across the country.
According to him, increasing Nigeria’s refining capacity will significantly benefit the economy by reducing its reliance on imports and exposure to global oil prices swings influenced by geopolitics and policy changes especially from major players like the United States.
He noted that while falling global oil prices may appear favourable for consumers, they significantly reduce government revenue, which is largely dependent on crude exports.
Ahmed added that the authority oversees crude refineries, modular plants, petrochemical and gas facilities, and distribution systems and of Nigeria’s 10 licensed refineries with a 1.2 million bpd capacity, only about 57.8 per cent are currently operational due to various challenges.
