…As Plant begins truck-out of products
After years of anticipation and several failed timelines The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) achieved a breakthrough as its the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State resumed crude oil processing on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 in Nigeria.
The achievement which was as a result of an extensive rehabilitation effort initiated by the NNPC Ltd in May 2021 culminated in the production of petroleum products that include Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Household Kerosene (HHK).
This was as loading onto trucks began on Tuesday thereby marking a critical milestone in Nigeria’s quest for energy independence.
An elated Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, during a brief ceremony in Port Harcourt, described the resumption of production by the Port Harcourt Refinery as a monumental achievement.
According to Kyari, it is a significant milestone for Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security, and attributed the success to the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the collaborative efforts of the NNPC Board, staff, and contractors.
He specifically said that the resumption of the Port Harcourt Refinery symbolised the President’s Renewed Hope for Nigeria’s energy sector, which has long been plagued by inefficiencies and dependency on imported petroleum products.
Kyari said that with production underway, stakeholders are optimistic about the broader impact on local economies and energy accessibility, he asserts
The NNPC Ltd Chief Executive also praised Nigerians for their patience and promised continued efforts to bring the Warri and Kaduna refineries back online.
Speaking in turn, Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), commended NNPC’s accomplishment and reaffirmed his agency’s support for ongoing refinery rehabilitation projects.
A statement by Mr Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC Ltd, said that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) rehabilitation, an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation & Commissioning (EPCIC) project, has achieved over 16 million man hours without a single Loss Time Injury (LTI).
Soneye said that despite several setbacks, including missed deadlines in December 2023 and March 2024, stakeholders have remained committed to restoring the refinery to full operational capacity just as he highlighted the refinery’s return as a turning point.
He said; “This milestone heralds a new era of energy independence and economic transformation for Nigeria.”
Soneye also said that alongside crude oil processing, truck loading had commenced, with a commitment to reviving the Warri Refinery in the near future.
