The Nigerian oldest Refinery, portharcourt Refinery, located in Eleme, Portharcourt, South-South of the country is expected to resume full operations by the end of December, 2023.
The Managing Director, Portharcourt refinery Ibrahim Onoja said 3000 workers delivered the project on record time, working round the clock.
According to him, “the resuscitation of the Refinery was done to achieve a common goal,despite global challenges.”
The Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic, Russian – Ukranian war and other force majeurs were major challenges faced by the rehabilitation of the Portharcourt Refinery.
The complete overhaul of the 53 year old Refinery began in April 2021.
The Managing Director of the Portharcourt Refinery stated that “currently, tanks, boilers and metal columns have been refurbished. From piping to welding, 85 percent work have been completed.”
Ibrahim Onoja assured Nigerians that the Refinery will produce petroleum products at affordable prices and give succour to Nigerians, grappling with fuel imports and suffocating prices.
Following the removal of petroleum subsidy on the inauguration day of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prices of petroleum products have continued to be on the increase, causing ripple effects on goods and services across the country.
The President has since introduced various incentives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. These include; payment of various special funds to state governments, cash transfers of N25,000 to vulnerable people, N35,000 wages awards to federal workers for six months, and provisions of CNG buses for mass transit among others.
The Full operation of the Portharcourt refinery will signal a fulfilment of promise by the Tinubu administration to provide stable and affordable petroleum products to Nigerians by the end of December, 2023.
It is also expected that full operations of a private refinery, owned by Dangote Group will come on stream this month.
