Port Harcourt refinery to commence operations in December – FG

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Following several calls by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, the Federal Government has reassured Nigerians of Its’ commitment to rekindle the operations of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. by December this year.

This was made known, Friday by the minister of state for petroleum resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant, in Port Harcourt; as was contained in a press release by the chief corporate communications officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited Garba Deen Muhammad.

According to the press release titled “HEINEKEN LOKPOBIRI: PORT HARCOURT REFINERY TO BE BACK ON STREAM DECEMBER,” the FG said it is making efforts to end petroleum products importation soon.

The statement read in part:

“The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ending petroleum product importation soon, as efforts are being redoubled to restore the nation’s local refining capacity.”

According to the press release, the Minister, who was in the company of his counterpart, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Gabriel T. Aduda, and the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, said “considering the level of progress recorded in the PHRC rehabilitation project, the plant will come back on stream by December this year.”

The statement added,

“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year, Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,” the Minister assured.”

Expressing his satisfaction with the work in progress, the Minister said “once all the refineries are back on stream, Nigerians will enjoy a better supply of petroleum products, and foreign exchange will be domesticated, leading to an improved economy.”

“Earlier in his remarks, the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, said bringing back the refineries to their optimal levels is a national aspiration, and the Company remains focused on delivering that.

“We are aware of our nation’s challenges in terms of fuel supply. But we are not here to give excuses. We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity. We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated.

“Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said: “We are here to go into the field. Yesterday was the era of subsidies. Today, we don’t have subsidies. Today, people are in a desperate situation to heave a sigh of relief; and see how to live. You all know that petrol is very vital to our economy. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the refineries are working,” he stated.

“During the visit, the two Ministers also participated in the Refineries’ Rehabilitation Steering Committee meeting and held a meeting with the refinery’s Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contractors.”

This is not the first time the government has given this assurance, as the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva set similar targets last year.

Also, recall that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has continuously emphasized the issue of Petroleum refining in Nigeria throughout its negotiations with the government as a pre-condition to petroleum subsidy removal.

The NLC had reportedly called on the federal government to fix local refineries of Kaduna, Warri and Portharcourt to be able to cater for domestic fuel consumption and save Naira from depreciation.