The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery is over 90 percent complete.
This was revealed during a visit by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the facility in Rivers State.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, made this known through Isiyaku Abudulai, the company’s Executive Vice-President for Downstream Operations.
The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) operates two refineries.
One is the older plant with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), while the other is a newer facility with a capacity of 150,000 bpsd.
Together, these refineries can process up to 210,000 bpsd of crude oil.
‘World-Class Refinery Coming Soon’
Abudulai assured that the rehabilitation would bring the refinery up to global standards.
“When the rehabilitation is completed, it will be up and running,” he said.
He added that the refinery would comply with strict health and safety standards, making it comparable to any refinery worldwide.
A report from Tecnimont SPA, the contractor handling the project, confirmed the 90 percent completion rate.
Abudulai stressed that NNPCL is committed to ensuring Nigerians get full value from the refinery.
“This refinery will provide 210,000 barrels per day, supporting refining processes and supplying finished petroleum products that the country needs,” he said.
A Boost for Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry
Once completed, the refinery is expected to meet local demand and reduce the need for imports.
Kyari said, “This achievement will propel sufficiency, exports, and local consumption of petroleum products, especially petrol.”
NNPCL’s efforts align with the government’s broader goal of achieving energy security.
A Team to Keep Things Running
To ensure smooth operations, NNPCL has established a professional technical team to handle operations and maintenance (O&M).
Abudulai explained that the team would monitor processes and replace aging components.
“We are looking at the best O&M teams around the world to support this process,” he stated.
The focus on top-notch maintenance is crucial to sustaining the refinery’s productivity.
Better Monitoring, Best Practices
NNPCL is also scaling up monitoring efforts to ensure global best practices are followed.
Kyari emphasized, “We will comply with the best practices around the refinery across the world.”
This approach aims to maximize efficiency and safety in refinery operations.
What This Means for Nigeria
The completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation is a significant milestone for Nigeria.
It signals a step toward reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
The refinery will also contribute to economic growth by creating jobs and boosting local production.
Labour Leaders Applaud Progress
Leaders of the NLC and TUC expressed satisfaction with the progress.
They commended NNPCL for its commitment to restoring the refinery’s capacity.
One union leader remarked, “This is the kind of development we’ve been waiting for.”
The visit ended with a renewed call for timely completion and transparent operations.
Challenges Remain
Despite the progress, challenges remain in ensuring consistent maintenance and avoiding future breakdowns.
Experts have urged NNPCL to prioritize long-term sustainability.
Kyari’s assurances of robust monitoring and professional teams give hope that these challenges will be tackled effectively.
