UPDATE:
NNPC Completes Rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery
. Nigerians await first product from refinery
By Sulaimon Salau
Celebrations has enveloped the air in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as it celebrates mechanical completion of the old Port Harcourt Refinery.
Barely 10 days countdown to the end of the year as being monitored by SlyeNews, the corporation today (Thursday) celebrates the completion.
SlyeNews report that the Ministers of state Petroleum resources for Oil and Gas is currently in the refinery for inspection, while Nigerians are awaiting first product from the refinery, after a the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project.
However, Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see the first refined petroleum products being shun out of the refinery.
Amaka Okafor, Assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, confirmed the resumption of operation at the refinery in a report by Business Day, saying, “Yes, the refinery is set, we will visit the refinery site today to kickstart its operation.”
The $1.5 billion rehabilitation project was launched by the Buhari administration in 2019, to restore the aging refinery to its nameplate capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The project seen as a critical step towards boosting Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and reducing its dependence on imported petroleum products.
Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, had earlier announced that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operation in December 2023.
More details later….
