NNPCL Engaging Partners With Proven Capacity To Revamp Its Refineries- Ojulari
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has said that the Company is currently in talks with partners with proven track record of refining and petrochemical operations, in order to build sustainable, self-financing, and profitable solutions for its refineries.
Ojulari disclosed this while fielding questions during a fireside chat themed
“Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future at NIES 2026”, at the ongoing Nigeria
International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The GCEO observed that historically, the focus on refineries has largely been
on financing and EPC delivery, noting that the approach has now moved
towards getting the operating model right for sustainability.
“Getting refineries up and running requires three critical elements:
financing, a competent EPC contractor, and world-class operational
capacity. That is exactly our focus at the moment,” he noted.
The GCEO added that NNPCL is now better positioned for commerciality
and sustained profitability, driven by ongoing transformation agenda aimed
at securing Nigeria’s energy future.
On the recent gains made in the reduction of crude oil theft and improved
pipeline availability, the NNPC Ltd GCEO attributed the success to
strengthened collaboration with upstream operators, noting that renewed
engagement and trust have significantly proven to be a major boost for
investor confidence, commercial outcomes, and productivity.
“When the current leadership of NNPC Ltd was appointed, we initiated a
fundamentally different engagement model with our partners which
focused on improving systems and processes for win-win outcomes in
production acceleration and contracting,” Ojulari said.
“There was also the decisive intervention by the Federal Government to
mitigate security challenges in the Niger Delta through a structured
surveillance framework, including the deployment of AI-enabled solutions
and security personnel. This has helped stabilise operations, ensure
production consistency, and deepen collaboration with host communities through targeted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that
address fundamental social issues,” Ojulari noted.
On the recently-launched NNPC Ltd Gas Master Plan 2026, Ojulari explained
that the Company is firmly focused on delivering in-country value through
gas utilisation initiatives, describing the plan as a customer-driven strategy
designed to stimulate market growth and shared prosperity.
According to him, the Plan is closely aligned with the Federal Government’s
Decade of Gas Initiative, which positions gas as a pillar of economic growth,
industrialisation, and energy transition.
On leadership and governance, Ojulari commended President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, for the unprecedented inclusion of industry experts on the NNPCL Board and Senior Management Team, describing it as a strategic
move that strengthens commercial discipline and global competitiveness.
He added that the blend of internal expertise, international experience, and
a highly skilled workforce positions NNPCL as a commercially viable and
performance-driven national energy company that will be the pride of all its
stakeholders.
