The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reiterated its readiness to commence crude oil refining at the Port Harcourt refinery in early August.
This announcement was made by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari during an emergency session at the National Assembly joint committee on finance on Monday.
Kyari reaffirmed that the Port Harcourt refinery will start production by early August this year, following earlier plans.
He emphasized the feasibility of Nigeria achieving a production target of two million barrels per day and becoming a net exporter of petroleum products by December, especially with the involvement of the Dangote refinery.
The Port Harcourt refinery complex, situated at Alesa-Eleme near Port Harcourt in Rivers State, consists of two refineries.
Port Harcourt II, also known as the New Refinery, has a distillation capacity of 7,500,000 metric tonnes per annum (150,000 barrels per day).
Originally intended for export, it now primarily serves the domestic market due to supply interruptions from other refineries in Nigeria.
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Recent updates from senior officials at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPCL indicate that the facility is currently undergoing licensing processes after crude oil supply commenced following mechanical completion in December 2023.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri confirmed that the refinery is in its final rehabilitation phase.
While earlier announcements in March indicated a planned start in April, regulatory compliance tests delayed operations.
Kyari assured that the necessary tests and preparations are ongoing to ensure a smooth commencement in early August.
“We completed the mechanical work in December and have since stocked crude oil at the refinery.
Regulatory compliance is crucial before starting operations,” Kyari clarified during a press briefing after appearing before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee.
Looking ahead, Kyari also mentioned progress on the Warri refinery and reaffirmed plans for the Kaduna refinery to be operational by December, marking significant milestones in Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation efforts.
