Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), has announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery Company is poised to recommence operations by December of this year.
The announcement was made during Senator Lokpobiri’s inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the Port Harcourt Refining Company plant in Rivers State’s capital, Port Harcourt. The disclosure was relayed through an official statement released in Abuja by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Accompanied by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, Senator Lokpobiri emphasised the substantial progress achieved in the rehabilitation project. He confidently stated that, judging by the strides made, the refinery plant will be operational once again by December.
The anticipated resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery promises to contribute to the country’s energy security and overall economic stability.
“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year.
“Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,” Lokpobiri said.
Expressing contentment with the ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the Port Harcourt refinery, the minister highlighted the potential benefits of the refineries’ full restoration. He emphasized that the collective revival of the refineries would result in improved petroleum product supply for Nigerians and the localization of foreign exchange.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, affirmed that the goal of reinstating the refineries to their optimal operational capacities was a shared national objective. He reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to achieving this objective.
“We are aware of our nation’s challenges in terms of fuel supply. But we are not here to give excuses. We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity.
“We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated.
On his part, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said, “We are here to go into the field. Yesterday was the era of subsidies. Today, we don’t have subsidies.
“Today, people are in a desperate situation to heave a sigh of relief and see how to live. You all know that petrol is very vital to our economy. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the refineries are working.”
