The Port Harcourt refinery is set to resume operations in April, according to Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Kyari stated that mechanical works on the facility have been completed, with over 450,000 barrels of crude oil delivered from active lines.
Additionally, repair works at the Kaduna and Warri refineries are nearing completion, with the Kaduna refinery expected to commence operations in December.
Meanwhile, the Senate has dismissed allegations of fraud in the turnaround maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s refineries, which have undergone significant repairs. This follows the approval of a $1.5bn fund for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, a key facility in Nigeria’s oil industry.
Despite being Africa’s top oil producer, Nigeria has historically relied on imports of petroleum products due to insufficient domestic refining capacity.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced plans for the refinery’s rehabilitation in three phases. The first phase aims to reach 90% of its capacity within 18 months, with subsequent phases following within 24 and 44 months, respectively.
The Port Harcourt refinery, established in 1965, is Nigeria’s oldest and has undergone various expansions over the years. However, in recent times, these facilities have experienced more downtime than operational activity.
