The Port Harcourt refinery, one of Nigeria’s key oil facilities, is set to resume crude oil processing after years of delays and extensive rehabilitation efforts. The refinery, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), will initially run at 60% of its capacity, processing 60,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Femi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPCL, hailed the refinery’s recommencement as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s energy sector. He emphasized that this milestone marks the beginning of a new era in the nation’s pursuit of energy independence and economic development.
“This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation,” said Soneye. He also acknowledged the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and GCEO Mele Kyari, praising their commitment to the project’s success.
The refinery’s recommissioning has been long-awaited, with several missed deadlines, and has faced years of underperformance due to maintenance issues. The refinery’s rehabilitation, which was initially set to be completed in 2019, has been a central issue for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with multiple delays impacting the country’s refining capacity.
In addition to the Port Harcourt refinery, Soneye also revealed that truck loading of crude is set to begin, with efforts underway to bring the Warri Refinery back online soon. The completion of these projects is seen as crucial for Nigeria, aiming to reduce its dependency on imported refined products and improve its domestic energy supply.
This development comes after years of mismanagement and underperformance of Nigeria’s refineries, which have often been criticized for declining operations while their maintenance contractors have profited. However, the recommissioning of Port Harcourt is seen as a significant step toward improving the country’s refining infrastructure and boosting energy security.
With the refinery now operational at 60% capacity, the NNPCL aims to progressively increase output and address the challenges facing Nigeria’s downstream oil sector. The country, Africa’s largest oil producer, has long struggled with a reliance on imported fuel despite its vast crude oil reserves.