Disappointment As Port Harcourt Refinery Fails To Meet 2023 Production Target
. FG Misses ‘After Xmas’ Production Promise
. NNPC Boasts Of Mechanical Completion
Disappointment is the real world to express the real feelings of Nigerians after waiting endlessly for the rehabilitated old Port Harcourt Refinery to commence production of petroleum products.
The refinery is expected to cushion the effect of fuel prices in the domestic market as promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the removal of subsidy, but the risen hope appears to be fading gradually as the refinery is yet to begin production.
Sequel to the promise by the president that the facility would be rehabilitated and begin production before the end of the year 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announced the mechanical completion on December 20th, while the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, promised that it would begin production after Christmas.
SlyeNews has closely monitored the development on the refinery and patiently initiated a countdown for the days in the last month of the year (December). However, our investigation shows that the refinery is yet to begin production as at today 31, December, 2023.
Besides, reliable sources have told our correspondent that the Port Harcourt Refinery might not begin operations till about February or March 2024, as the facility is still undergoing technical checks required to perfect it for operations.
The promise statements below….
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, had on December 20, 2023, announced the completion of the rehabilitation of the refinery, disclosing that the facility would resume production of petroleum products after Christmas.
He said, “This is just to announce to Nigerians that in fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream phase 1 of the PH refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase 2 in 2024, we heartily announce the mechanical completion and flare up of the refinery on the 20th of December 2023. This heralds the commencement of production of petroleum products after the Christmas break.”
Kyari Confirms Port Harcourt refinery will start working in December
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has confirmed that the Port Harcourt refinery will start working in December 2023.
Kyari made the confirmation on Thursday during his meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
– The Guardian, November 24, 2023
Port Harcourt refinery to commence operations December — Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday night, assured the leaders of the organised labour that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations by December 2023.
_ Punch, August 2, 2023
