…hails ex-President Buhari, African Export-Import Bank on facilitation

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited on the successful revitalisation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

Tinubu also urged the firm to expedite the scheduled reactivation of the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu celebrates the revival of Port Harcourt refinery and directs NNPC Limited to promptly reactivate Warri and Kaduna refineries.’

Onanuga said, “The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.

“Furthermore, President Tinubu commends the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone.

“With the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday confirmed that the refinery has commenced fuel production.

NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said the loading of trucks would start on Tuesday (yesterday).

“Port Harcourt Refinery begins production. Truck loading starts today, Tuesday,” Soneye confirmed.

It was learnt that the refinery would start with 60,000 barrels capacity per day, releasing Premium Motor Spirit, diesel, and others into the Nigerian market.

The Port Harcourt Refinery would be the second petrol-producing refinery after the Dangote Refinery commenced PMS production in September.

It is one of the three owned by the Federal Government and managed by the NNPC.

Nigerians have been hopeful that the cost of fuel could crash if the country refines its crude and ends the import of refined products.

The refinery, situated in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, has been in operation since 1965, but later became moribund for several years.

In March 2021, the Nigerian government acquired a $1.5bn loan for the renovation and modernisation of the refinery.

The PUNCH reports that promises made to Nigerians by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC about the refinery failed seven times before now.

Barely two months after the September completion deadline failed, the NNPC explained last week why it could not deliver the much-awaited Port Harcourt refinery at the scheduled time.

In an interview, Soneye said the company encountered risks and challenges while carrying out the rehabilitation, being a brownfield project.

He noted that the NNPC began the commissioning of critical equipment and processing units after the mechanical completion in Nigeria.

“You may recall that mechanical completion of the PHRC revamp was successfully achieved several months ago, marking a significant milestone in the project. Following this, we began the commissioning of critical equipment and process units.

“However, as is common with brownfield projects of this scale and complexity, we encountered unforeseen risks and challenges,” he stated.

Nonetheless, he said the issues were resolved and commissioning activities resumed.