The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has acknowledged that efforts to rehabilitate the country’s state-owned refineries are facing significant challenges, with the process proving more complex than initially projected.

Speaking to Bloomberg on the sidelines of the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, disclosed that despite heavy investment and the adoption of new technologies, the rehabilitation work has encountered unforeseen setbacks.

Ojulari revealed that the Port Harcourt refinery, which briefly resumed crude oil processing in November 2024, had to shut down again in May 2025 due to new maintenance issues.

He added that similar challenges persist at the Warri and Kaduna refineries, where repair efforts are still ongoing.

“So refineries, we made quite a lot of investment over the last several years and brought in a lot of technologies. We’ve been challenged,” he said.

“Some of those technologies have not worked as we expected so far. But also, as you know, when you’re refining a very old refinery that has been abandoned for some time, what we’re finding is that it’s becoming a little bit more complicated.”

Ojulari stated that NNPCL is now conducting a comprehensive review of its refinery rehabilitation strategy and that conclusions from the exercise could prompt a change in approach.

“We hope before the end of the year, we’ll be able to conclude that review. That review may lead to us doing things slightly differently,” he added.

Responding to a question about whether the company might consider privatizing the refineries, Ojulari said the option remains under consideration.

“Sale is not out of the question. All the options are on the table, to be frank, but that decision will be based on the outcome of the reviews we’re doing now.”

The federal government has invested heavily in reviving the country’s refineries in recent years, with the goal of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products.