After several delays, the Port Harcourt Refinery is finally set to begin production, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector. The refinery, which had missed seven deadlines for commencing production as of October 2024, is now officially operational.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had set multiple dates for the refinery’s start, including promises made in March, August, and September 2024. However, all these deadlines passed without the refinery beginning production.
A statement by Femi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, also commented on the achievement, saying: “Today (Tuesday) marks a monumental achievement for Nigeria as the Port Harcourt Refinery officially commences crude oil processing. This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation.”
The statement continued, “Hearty congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and the exceptional leadership of GCEO Mele Kyari for their unwavering commitment to this transformative project. Together, we are reshaping Nigeria’s energy future!”
Rehabilitation of the refinery began in 2021, with Maire Tecnimont SpA overseeing the project under a $1.5 billion contract signed in April 2021.
Despite announcements of mechanical completion in December 2023, the refinery did not start production due to ongoing safety checks and delays in the final stages of rehabilitation, according to NNPCL.
The NNPCL also announced that truck loading would commence on the same day, and that the company is working to bring the Warri Refinery back online soon.
This development marks the end of a series of failed deadlines for the Port Harcourt refinery, located in Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers State.
READ ALSO: NNPCL Not Sabotaging Domestic Refineries — Kyari Insist
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, had initially promised the refinery would begin production in September 2023, but this was later pushed to December.
In March 2024, Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of NNPCL, reiterated that the refinery would begin production in April 2024.
Kyari had previously said, “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.”
Three years ago, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, one of the country’s largest refineries, which had been shut down in 2019.
Despite being one of the largest producers of crude oil globally, Nigeria has historically struggled with a lack of local refining capacity, forcing the country to rely on the importation of petroleum products.
This reliance has placed a significant financial strain on the nation, resulting in widespread protests against the government and growing pressure on the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Various groups and individuals have called for an investigation into alleged sabotage of the country’s refineries by NNPC officials.
