The Minster of State of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri has announced that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol production will resume at the Port Harcourt Refinery after Christmas break.
He spoke during the media tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery and the 15th Rehabilitation SteerCo Meeting to announce ‘mechanical completion’ of phase one of the refinery.
He said the ‘mechanical completion’ of refinery will herald petrol production at the refinery.
Lokpobiri said the phase one of the mechanical completion of the refinery by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has led to the planned production of petrol after Christmas break.
He said that phase two of the project will be completed by 2024 to ensure that full production is restored at the refinery.
“The mechanical part is completed and this is the beginning of the completion of not just this Port Harcourt Refinery phase one and two, but the one for Warri, and then the one in Kaduna, so that we would be able to benefit from this massive investment that the country has made,” he said.
The Port Harcourt Refineries has two units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant with 150,000 bpd, bring both capacities to 210,000 bpd.
Also speaking at the event, NNPC Group CEO, Mele Kyari , explained the event was to announce that Port Harcourt Refinery pumps have been rehabilitated to allow circulation of crude within the facility.
“It is just to thank the team for doing a great work and for keeping the promise we made to over 200 million Nigerians, and we know that this is a promise we can keep. We have a competent contractor,, and subcontractors. Our staff have extremely determined to deliver on this project, and today, it is promise fulfilled. The phase two will be completed in the last quarter of 2024,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “We know all the skepticism that is in the public space but today has shown that we can fulfill commitments. NNPC is here to deliver value and we will get things done going forward,” he said.
Kyari added: “We have done a great deal of work to get the refinery to work. Our team has been working 24 hours a day and we are happy with the results we have today”.
Also speaking, Minister of State (Gas) Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, said with the commencement of petrol producduction after Christmas, there will be more LPG supply to the Nigerian market.
He said: “The good news equally to LPG users that as the refinery commences after Christmas, we will have sufficient supply of LPG which will reduce the import at that level.
Chairman, NNPC Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure said he promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the Port Harcourt Refinery will be ready by the end of this year
” I am here this morning to witness this historic ceremony on the mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery. We are proud of the staff and entire management of the refinery. We will be at the highest level of production, and if possible export part of our production, ” he said.
Continuing, he said: “Doubts had been expressed by several Nigerians about the ability of NNPC to make this facility available to support the distribution of fuel in the country. But today, I see them happy”.
Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery, Ibrahim Onoja, said the mechanical completion of the refinery is a historic achievement, for the country and economy.
He said: ” Today is a very happy day for me. I was part of the story from the beginning. We had a Presidential directive to get the refinery working. The NNPC Group CEO asked us to give him unassailable process that will not fail”.
Continuing, he said: “We set governance in process and got the best team to do the work. We created a transparent project. We have 118 pumps in this first phase, the columns were filled and it will produce 60,000 barrels per day. It will create jobs and earn forex for the country, ” he said.
