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Port Harcourt Refinery Set To Resume Operations By December– FG
Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation
According to the Federal Government, the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd is set to resume operations by December.
This move is in line with the government’s determination to halt the importation of petroleum products. They are intensifying their endeavours to revive the country’s domestic refining capability.
In a statement issued on Friday by Garba Deen Muhammad, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who serves as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), made this announcement.
The Minister’s assurance was quoted during his inspection tour of the ongoing rehabilitation progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant in Port Harcourt, also conducted on Friday.
Accompanied by his counterpart, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Gabriel T. Aduda; and the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) stated that due to the significant progress achieved in the rehabilitation project of PHRC, the plant is anticipated to be operational again by December of this year.
“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year.
“Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,” the Minister assured.
He also said he was satisfied with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt refinery, noting that once all the refineries are back on stream, Nigerians will enjoy a better supply of petroleum products, and foreign exchange will be domesticated, leading to an improved economy.
This remark comes several weeks after President Bola Tinubu’s attempt to persuade organized labour to cease their nationwide protest. During this effort, he pledged that the Port Harcourt refinery would be operational by December.
Likewise, during the visit on Friday, Mr Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., highlighted that the revitalization of the refineries to their best operational states is a shared national ambition. He underlined the company’s unwavering dedication to achieving this goal.
“We are aware of our nation’s challenges in terms of fuel supply. But we are not here to give excuses. We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity.
“We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said: “We are here to go into the field. Yesterday was the era of subsidies. Today, we don’t have subsidies. Today, people are in a desperate situation to heave a sigh of relief; and see how to live. You all know that petrol is very vital to our economy. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the refineries are working,” he stated.
As part of the visit, the ministers also took part in a meeting of the Refineries’ Rehabilitation Steering Committee and conducted discussions with the Engineering, Procurement and construction (EPC) Contractors responsible for the refinery’s projects.
