By Mark Ogagan
One of Nigeria’s moribund refineries, the Port Harcourt Refinery is finally set to start production, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has revealed.
The refinery had missed seven deadlines for commencing production as of October 2024.
NNPCL had set multiple dates for the refinery’s operational start, including promises made in March, August, and September 2024, all of which passed without fulfillment.
However, in an official message released on Tuesday, the NNPCL said: “Today (Tuesday) marks a monumental achievement for Nigeria as the Port Harcourt Refinery officially commences crude oil processing. This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation.
“Hearty congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and the exceptional leadership of GCEO Mele Kyari for their unwavering commitment to this transformative project. Together, we are reshaping Nigeria’s energy future!”
Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery began in 2021. The contractor overseeing the project, Maire Tecnimont SpA, had been working on the facility since a $1.5 billion contract was signed in April 2021.
Despite announcements of mechanical completion in December 2023, the refinery did not start production due to what the NNPCL called “ongoing safety checks and delays in the final stages of rehabilitation.”
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