5TPD palm kernel oil and soybean oil refinery project in Nigeria

This 5TPD oil refinery project in Nigeria was developed for an established edible oil processor looking to move from crude oil trading to refined edible oil production. The refinery was designed to process both crude palm kernel oil and crude soybean oil, with batch operation allowing refining conditions to be adjusted according to different feedstock characteristics.

Batch type edible oil refinery machine

Project at a Glance

Project Parameter	Technical & Operational Details
Location	Nigeria
Processing Capacity	5 Tons Per Day (5 TPD)
Raw Materials	Crude Palm Kernel Oil & Crude Soybean Oil
Refinery System	Batch Type Edible Oil Refinery
Heating Medium	Thermal Oil Heating System
Key Milestones	Order Signed: March 24, 2025 / Equipment Delivered: July 12, 2025 / Installation Started: March 19, 2026 / Commissioning Completed: July 31, 2026
Project Scope	Process Engineering, Equipment Manufacturing, Export Logistics, On-site Installation, Commissioning & Operator Training

Project Background: From Crude Oil Trading to Refined Oil Production

The Nigerian customer had been involved in the edible oil business and wanted to move further along the value chain by refining crude oil into higher-value edible oil products.

The project required a refining system with a relatively small daily capacity while remaining flexible enough to process both crude palm kernel oil and crude soybean oil. Since the two feedstocks have different refining characteristics, the customer needed a system where operating conditions could be adjusted between production batches.

After discussing the raw materials, production capacity, refining requirements, and site conditions with Henan Glory's engineering team, a 5TPD batch-type oil refinery with thermal oil heating was selected for the project. The contract was signed on March 24, 2025.

Shipment of 5TPD batch-type edible oil refinery machine

Technical Solution: 5TPD Batch Oil Refinery with Thermal Oil Heating

The refinery was configured as a batch-type system, allowing the customer to process different crude oils in separate batches and adjust process parameters according to the characteristics of each feedstock.

Flexible Processing for Different Crude Oils

The system can process both crude palm kernel oil and crude soybean oil. Batch operation allows parameters for degumming, deacidification, bleaching, and deodorization to be adjusted according to the crude oil being processed.

During commissioning, trial production was carried out with both feedstocks. The bleaching earth dosage was adjusted to 2.5% for soybean oil and 3–4% for palm kernel oil, depending on the color result after bleaching.

Thermal Oil Heating System

The refinery uses a thermal oil heating system to provide stable and uniform heat transfer throughout the refining process. This supports controlled heating during key stages such as deacidification, bleaching, and deodorization.

Thermal oil piping installation

The system is particularly suitable for small-scale batch refining where controlled heating is required across different processing stages.

Batch Refining for Small-Scale Production

With a capacity of 5 TPD, the batch refinery provides a practical configuration for small and medium-sized edible oil processors. Each batch can be processed according to its specific crude oil characteristics, providing greater operational flexibility when handling multiple feedstocks.

Project Execution: Installation, Commissioning & Operator Training

Following equipment delivery in July 2025, the customer completed the required civil works and utility preparation. Henan Glory then dispatched installation engineers to the project site in Nigeria on March 19, 2026.

The on-site project work included:

Equipment Installation & Integration: Equipment positioning, process pipeline connections, high-vacuum system alignment, thermal oil system connections, and auxiliary utility integration.

Process Commissioning & Optimization: Trial runs were conducted using crude palm kernel oil and crude soybean oil. Refining parameters, including chemical dosing, bleaching earth dosage, and deodorization conditions, were adjusted according to the characteristics and results of each batch.

Operator Training: Local operators received hands-on training covering equipment operation, safety procedures, routine maintenance, and basic process and quality control.

Henan Glory's Nigeria branch also provides local technical assistance and after-sales support following commissioning.

Bleaching earth tank

Project Result

On July 31, 2026, the 5TPD batch oil refinery was successfully commissioned and officially put into commercial operation.

Based on a nominal capacity of 5 TPD and approximately 30 operating days per month, the refinery can process around 150 tons of crude oil per month.

The project enables the customer to produce refined palm kernel oil and refined soybean oil from their respective crude feedstocks, while the batch configuration provides flexibility to adjust refining conditions between different production runs.

5TPD edible oil refinery project in Nigeria

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a batch oil refinery?

A batch oil refinery processes crude oil in individual batches rather than continuously. This allows operators to adjust refining parameters between batches according to different crude oil characteristics, making the system suitable for small-scale production and multiple feedstocks.

Q2: Can one batch refinery process both palm kernel oil and soybean oil?

Yes. A properly configured batch refinery can process different edible oils in separate batches. For this Nigeria project, the 5TPD refinery was designed to process both crude palm kernel oil and crude soybean oil, with refining conditions adjusted according to each feedstock.

Q3: What is the capacity range of a batch edible oil refinery?

Henan Glory's batch edible oil refining solutions typically cover 1–20 TPD. The appropriate capacity and configuration depend on the crude oil type, required production volume, site conditions, and investment requirements.

Q4: Why use thermal oil heating for an oil refinery?

Thermal oil heating provides stable and uniform heat transfer and allows controlled heating during different refining stages. It is used in this 5TPD project to support consistent temperature control throughout batch refining.

Q5: What services are included in a small oil refinery project?

Depending on project requirements, Henan Glory can provide process design, equipment manufacturing, export logistics, on-site installation, commissioning, process optimization, operator training, and after-sales technical support.

Planning a 1–20TPD Batch Oil Refinery?

If you are planning a small-scale palm kernel oil refinery, soybean oil refinery, or other edible oil refining project, Henan Glory can provide customized batch refining equipment and project solutions based on your crude oil type, processing capacity, site conditions, and investment requirements.