Ebenco Modular Refinery has achieved a significant milestone, following the receipt of authorization from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to introduce hydrocarbons into the facility's fractionating column as the facility advances to commissioning.
The authorisation follows a satisfactory Pre-Start-Up Safety Audit (PSSA) outcome conducted at the refinery from 14–15 September 2026.
In a letter dated 12 October 2026, NMDPRA confirmed that, following the PSSA's satisfactory outcome, the Authority had authorised the introduction of hydrocarbons into the refinery, subject to conditions governing the commissioning and reliability-testing process.
The Ebenco Refinery will now proceed with a 90-day reliability test, including a 72-hour non-stop performance test, under the Authority's monitoring.
The development marks an important transition for the Ebenco Refinery, moving the facility from pre-start-up preparations into the hydrocarbon introduction, commissioning and performance-testing stage.
As commissioning activities progress, the NMDPRA pre-commissioning team will continue to provide regulatory guidance, while Ebenco is required to submit daily reports covering commissioning activities, operating performance and product quality.
The Authority has also stipulated that prior approval must be obtained for product offtake during commissioning, while any shutdowns or safety incidents must be reported alongside their causes and corrective actions.
The latest NMDPRA authorisation represents another significant step in the development of the Ebenco Refinery and advances Ebenco’s broader objective of contributing to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity through indigenous technology, local fabrication and locally driven energy infrastructure.
