The heart of Nigeria’s oil industry witnessed an unprecedented moment as the Port Harcourt refinery, long dormant, reached a pivotal milestone with the announcement of mechanical completion and flare start-off, heralding the much-awaited onset of production in a phased approach.
Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), radiated pride as he unveiled this monumental achievement during a meticulously organized media tour of the refinery on Thursday.
“Just to announce to Nigerians the fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream phase one of the Port Harcourt refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase two in 2024. We happily announced the mechanical completion and the flare start-off on the 20th of December 2023,” Mr. Lokpobiri said on Thursday.
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He emphasized the significance of the mechanical completion and flare start-off on December 20, 2023, as a crucial leap forward in the country’s energy revival.
The Port Harcourt Refineries, comprising both older and newer units, now stand tall with a formidable combined refining capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd). The newly integrated plant contributes a substantial 150,000 bpd to bolster Nigeria’s domestic production capabilities.
This significant milestone follows the refinery’s closure in March 2019, initiating the initial phase of repair works. Italy’s Maire Tecnimont spearheaded the comprehensive review of the refinery complex, backed by Eni’s technical expertise as an adviser, marking a collaborative effort to breathe life back into this strategic asset.
Minister Lokpobiri, speaking with heartfelt gratitude, assured Nigerians that petroleum product production at the refinery is slated to commence post the Christmas break. He extended sincere appreciation to the populace for their patience and unwavering trust in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), acknowledging their pivotal role in facilitating the realization of this pivotal refinery rehabilitation initiative.
Recognizing the profound significance of this accomplishment within the context of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Minister Lokpobiri extended warm congratulations to NNPC and the nation for this momentous feat.
“This heralds the commencement of production of petroleum products after the Christmas break. We want to thank Nigerians for their patience and trust in the NNPC to deliver on her promise and mandate of rehabilitating our refineries,” he added.
Pius Akinyelure, the Board Chairman of NNPC Ltd, echoed Lokpobiri’s sentiments, expressing profound satisfaction with the landmark development. He reaffirmed NNPC’s unwavering commitment to President Tinubu’s outlined timeline and emphasized the critical role of the refinery’s operation in stabilizing fuel costs, a crucial factor in Nigeria’s economic stability.
This achievement is the culmination of Nigeria’s enduring struggle with defunct refineries, resulting in heavy reliance on imported petroleum products and substantial revenue losses. Despite previous refurbishment attempts and shifting deadlines, meeting production targets had remained an elusive endeavor.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, pledged to revitalize the country’s refineries aimed to bolster reserves and cease fuel importation. However, consecutive delays and escalating renovation costs impeded the efficient processing of crude oil, casting shadows on the realization of this ambitious goal.
Minister Lokpobiri’s assurances in August were met with skepticism as earlier deadlines went unfulfilled, underscoring the challenges faced in revitalizing these critical energy infrastructures.
The comprehensive tour of the refinery, graced by key dignitaries including Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, NNPC Ltd Board Chairman Pius Akinyelure, NNPC Ltd Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari, and other eminent officials, marked a significant turning point in Nigeria’s energy landscape. The occasion stands as a testament to resilience, determination, and collective efforts poised to reshape Nigeria’s energy future.
The Port Harcourt refinery has gulped $1.5 billion in rehabilitation funds.