The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says it is carefully examining the agreement recently signed between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and two Chinese firms before deciding on its official response.

According to the union’s leadership, the memorandum of understanding is still being studied in detail, especially the responsibilities and commitments outlined in the deal. The association noted that it would only speak publicly after completing its internal review of the arrangement.

The agreement in question involves plans to work with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Company. The partnership is aimed at completing, operating, and upgrading Nigeria’s Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, while also expanding petrochemical production and developing gas-based industrial hubs.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declined to comment on the development, with its leadership saying it is currently unavailable due to being on leave outside the country.

The deal, signed earlier in the week by NNPC management and representatives of the Chinese firms, is being presented as a long-term technical and investment collaboration designed to improve refinery performance and increase output efficiency. It also includes plans for future upgrades and expansion of downstream operations.

Industry stakeholders have continued to react cautiously. The Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) expressed concern over bringing in foreign operators without fully tapping into local refinery expertise, arguing that domestic knowledge could have played a stronger role in the rehabilitation process.