Recall that in December 2023, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, told Nigerians that the mechanical and flare start-off of the refinery had been completed.
The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has stated that the 210,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery will begin operations by the end of July.
The IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, Ukadike Chinedu, who made this known on Monday said that the commencement of the refinery operations would reduce the price of petroleum products and ensure adequate supply and stimulate economic activities.
Recall that in December 2023, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, told Nigerians that the mechanical and flare start-off of the refinery had been completed.
According to the specifications of the refinery, it comprises two units with the old plant having a refined capacity of 60,000 barrels per day while the new plant has 150,000 barrels per day.
In March 2019, the refinery was shut down for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the service of a technical adviser of Itay’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the reviews of its complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser.
In March this year, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, said he would announce the operations of the Port Harcourt refinery in about two weeks.
Kyari during a press briefing after he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc committee investigating the various turnaround maintenance projects of the country’s refineries said, “We did a mechanical completion of the refinery that was what we said in December.
“We now have crude oil already stocked in the refinery. We are doing regulatory compliance tests that must happen in every refinery before you start it, and I assure you that this Port Harcourt refinery will start in two weeks.”
But the machinery had yet to begin operations two months after he made the promise.
The PUNCH reports that in an interview on Monday, the IPMAN spokesperson said that the work done represented a complete turnaround, not just rehabilitation, emphasising that every effort would be made to meet the July deadline.
Ukadike was quoted as saying, “Yes when we visited the place, the MD told us that the refinery was almost ready and by the end of July, they would start producing. It has been turned into a new one. They changed all the armoured cable to brand new and everything there is almost like a brand-new refinery.
“The turnaround on maintenance is very massive and the job is being done day and night. All hands are on deck to make sure that they meet that target. By the end of July the refinery should be ready.”
When he was reminded of several promises by the government to kick start the project, Ukadike said, “Yes, there have been delays but they didn’t tell us any reason for the delay of the last deadline given in April.
“They are not facing any challenges at all; I can say the refinery is 99 percent ready.
“What we want is competition. I am very sure that with the two refineries, the price of petrol will be reduced. Dangote is coming soon and the Port Harcourt refinery is almost ready too and that is very good. We need that competition for the benefit of the nation.”