Port Harcourt Refinery Resumes Operation
The Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers State has finally resumed operation after years of being shut down.
This follows a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project initiated in 2019 by the former president, Muhammadu Buhari administration to restore its capacity to 210,000 barrels per day, aiming to enhance domestic refining and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
“Yes, the refinery is set, we will visit the the refinery site today to kickstart it’s operation,” Amaka Okafor, special assistant to Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum (oil) told newsmen.
The project has been touted to be a critical step towards boosting Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.
It will also help to reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Meanwhile, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari had earlier announced that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operation in December 2023.
Kyari said this in November during his meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
He also informed Abbas that the rehabilitation of the state-run refineries is in serious progress, saying it would put an end to the importation of petrol by December 2024.
“I can confirm to you that by the end of December this year, we will start the Port Harcourt refinery,” Kyari said.
