In a significant stride toward energy independence, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), declared the successful completion of phase 1 rehabilitation for the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State. This marks the initiation of petroleum refining activities.
The announcement transpired at the 15th Refineries Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting in Port Harcourt, coinciding with the mechanical completion of the ageing Port Harcourt refinery on Thursday. Notable figures present included Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, and Chief Pius Akinyelure, NNPC Board Chairman.
Senator Lokpobiri conveyed, “In fulfilment of our commitment to bring phase 1 of the PH refinery online by the end of 2023 and phase 2 in 2024, I’m delighted to announce the mechanical completion and flare-up of the refinery on December 20, 2023. This signals the commencement of petroleum product production post-Christmas.”
Adding to the discourse, Chief Pius Akinyelure, the chairman of NNPCL’s board, emphasized their dedication to meeting the promised deadline. “We pledged that the refinery would be operational before the year’s end. Today, we witness this historic event. We applaud the staff and management of the refinery. Our journey is just beginning, aiming for peak production to stabilize petroleum prices in our country.”
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, reaffirmed the commitment to ensuring the refinery’s full completion.
The Old Port Harcourt Refinery (OPHR), commissioned in 1965 with a 35,000 BPSD capacity, underwent expansion in 1972, reaching its current 60,000 BPSD capacity. The New Port Harcourt Refinery (NPHR), inaugurated in March 1989, boasts a capacity of 150,000 BPSD.
Despite previous revival attempts, the refinery remained dormant until the current initiative by NNPC Limited. Shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repairs, the government engaged Italy’s Maire Tecnimont, with Eni as the technical adviser.
This shutdown led to increased petroleum product imports, impacting the nation’s revenue significantly. Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted the positive impact on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry, a significant by-product of the refinery, anticipating favourable outcomes for the nation.
