Ghost refineries: P’Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna plants rot as workers turn idle

Ghost Refineries: The Slow Decay of Nigeria’s Once-Promising Oil Infrastructure

In a sobering reflection of Nigeria’s troubled oil sector, the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, once symbols of industrial ambition, now stand as ghostly monuments to neglect and mismanagement.

These facilities, which were built to process hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil daily, have been largely dormant for years, despite repeated promises of rehabilitation and billions of naira allocated for turnaround maintenance.

The Port Harcourt refinery, the largest of the trio, has seen multiple attempts at revamping, including a $1.5 billion rehabilitation contract awarded in 2021. Yet, progress remains elusive. Warri and Kaduna refineries share a similar fate, with machinery rusting and pipelines lying idle.

Workers at these plants, many of whom have spent decades in service, now report to duty with little to do, some simply maintaining paperwork or overseeing empty control rooms. Their technical expertise, once vital to Nigeria’s energy independence, is now underutilized.

The implications of these idle refineries are far-reaching. Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, continues to import refined petroleum products at great cost, straining foreign reserves and contributing to fuel scarcity. The failure to revive domestic refining capacity has also stifled job creation and economic growth in regions that once thrived around these industrial hubs.

Despite government assurances and partnerships with international firms, skepticism abounds. Critics argue that without transparency, accountability, and a clear operational roadmap, the refineries may never return to full functionality. As the global energy landscape shifts toward renewables and cleaner technologies, Nigeria’s aging refineries risk becoming relics of a bygone era, unless decisive action is taken.

The story of Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries is not just about rusting steel and idle workers. It is a cautionary tale of lost potential, where infrastructure without vision becomes a burden rather than a boon.