The Port-Harcourt refinery, with a capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, is set to recommence operations by the conclusion of July, as revealed by Chief Ukadike Chinedu, the National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria. This advancement is anticipated to invigorate economic activities, reduce petroleum product prices, and ensure sufficient supply. In the preceding year’s December, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, announced the mechanical completion and ignition of flares at Port Harcourt’s largest crude refinery, encompassing an old plant with a refined capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and a new plant with 150,000 BPD.
After a shutdown in March 2019 for initial repair works, Maire Tecnimont from Italy and Eni, a prominent oil company, were enlisted as technical advisors. On March 15, 2024, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, assured during a press briefing before the Senate Ad hoc committee investigating refinery maintenance projects that the Port Harcourt refinery would commence operations within two weeks. However, machinery remained inactive two months later.
In an interview, Chief Ukadike emphasized the extensive overhaul of the refinery and pledged concerted efforts to meet the July deadline. He expressed confidence in the refinery’s preparedness, notwithstanding previous delays, and highlighted the importance of market competition in potentially reducing petrol prices with the Port Harcourt refinery and the upcoming Dangote Refinery.
The new timeline aligns with Aliko Dangote’s announcement that the Dangote Refinery intends to commence petrol production by the end of June, potentially obviating Nigeria’s need for petrol imports and saving the government billions. Femi Soneye, the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, identified pending regulatory approvals from international bodies as the primary obstacle to refinery operations, confirming that mechanical completion had been achieved.
