The 210,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery is expected to commence operations by the end of July after multiple delays.
This announcement was made on Monday by Chief Ukadike Chinedu, the National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
Chief Chinedu stated that the operationalization of the refinery would enhance economic activities, reduce petroleum product prices, and ensure adequate supply. This follows the December 2023 announcement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, regarding the mechanical completion and flare start-off of Nigeria’s largest crude refinery in Port Harcourt.
The refinery complex consists of two units: an older plant with a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and a new plant with a 150,000 barrels per day capacity. The refinery has been shut down since March 2019 for extensive repairs.
The Nigerian government secured the services of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont as a technical adviser, with oil major Eni overseeing the refinery reviews.
Earlier this year, on March 15, Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, announced that the refinery would commence operations within two weeks, pending regulatory compliance tests. However, operations have not yet begun.
In a recent interview, IPMAN’s Chief Ukadike highlighted the significant progress made, emphasising that the refinery’s overhaul represented a complete transformation rather than mere rehabilitation. He expressed confidence that the refinery would meet the new July deadline, citing ongoing work being conducted around the clock.
“Yes, when we visited, the MD confirmed that the refinery was nearly ready and expected to start producing by the end of July. The turnaround maintenance has been extensive, with all components replaced, making it almost like a new refinery,” said Ukadike. Despite previous delays, he assured that the refinery is now 99% ready.
The new timeline aligns with the Dangote Refinery’s plans to commence petrol production by the end of June. Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, assured that Nigeria would cease petrol imports once the refinery begins operations, capable of meeting West Africa’s petrol and diesel needs and the continent’s aviation fuel demand.
With Nigeria’s average monthly petrol consumption at 1 billion litres, the country spends approximately N520 billion on petrol imports each month. The start of local production could save the government an estimated N6.2 trillion annually.
Femi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, noted that regulatory approvals from international bodies are the only remaining hurdle before operations can commence. He confirmed that the refinery’s mechanical completion is done, with crude oil supplied by Shell and all systems functioning. Soneye highlighted that certain materials require approval from nuclear authorities, which is pending.
“We are ready to go but must await these final approvals to ensure compliance and safety. Once obtained, operations will begin immediately,” Soneye assured.
