The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has resumed operations several months after it was shut down for rehabilitation by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
Amaka Okafor, Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, who confirmed the resumption of operation at the refinery said, “Yes, the refinery is set, we will visit the refinery site today (Wednesday) to kickstart its operation.”
The $1.5 billion rehabilitation project of the refinery was launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2019, to restore the refinery to its nameplate capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The Ministers of State in the Petroleum Ministry, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil) and Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), are currently in Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. for the Refineries’ Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting.
Accompanied by the Members of the Board of NNPC Ltd. and the Group CEO, Mele Kyari, the Ministers will afterwards headline the Mechanical Completion Ceremony of the old Port Harcourt Refinery.
Lokpobiri and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, in August, assured Nigerians that the refinery would be operational by December 2023.
Also, during the budget defence session on December 9, Kyari told Lawmakers that by the end of December 2023, the Port Harcourt refinery would commence operations.
He further said that in early 2024, the Warri refinery would begin operation and that by the end of 2024, the Kaduna refinery was expected to also commence operation.
“I can confirm to you that by the end of December this year, we will start the Port Harcourt refinery; early in the first quarter of 2024, we will start the Warri refinery, and by the end of 2024, Kaduna refinery will come into operation,” be said.
Mon/SR/Hauwa Abu
