Port Harcourt refinery receives 450,000 barrels of crude oil and is set to resume operations in Apri
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has announced that the Port Harcourt refinery will restart operations in approximately two weeks. Kyari mentioned that mechanical works on the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries have been completed.
He assured that the Kaduna refinery will also resume operations by December. Kyari made these remarks during a press briefing after appearing before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Turn Around Maintenance projects of the country’s refineries. He emphasized the commitment of the NNPC to fulfill its promises regarding the rehabilitation of the refineries.
We have achieved mechanical completion of the refinery as planned, which was our target for December. Currently, we have crude oil stored in the refinery. Before starting operations, we are conducting regulatory compliance tests, a standard procedure for all refineries. I can assure you that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations within the next two weeks.
Mechanical completion indicates that the rehabilitation work is finished, and now we are proceeding to test its functionality. Similarly, the Warri refinery has also completed its mechanical work and is undergoing regulatory compliance procedures with our regulator. We anticipate completing these processes soon.
As for the Kaduna refinery, we are working diligently, and it is expected to be operational by December, as promised. While we have not reached the same stage as Port Harcourt and Warri, we are committed to delivering results for Kaduna by the specified timeline.
During his appearance before the Senate, the NNPC GMD informed that the Port Harcourt refinery has received over 450,000 barrels of oil, with all crude lines currently operational and functioning effectively.
We have confidence in the integrity of the process. While there may be security challenges, the government is actively addressing them.
On another note, the Senate has rejected reports of fraud in the ongoing Turn Around Maintenance of the nation's refineries by the NNPC. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chairman of the Senate ad-hoc panel, stated that he has reviewed documents related to the TAM and found no evidence of fraudulent practices. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the progress being made in rehabilitating the refineries.
He mentioned that the committee plans to visit all refineries to assess their progress, ensuring a thorough report is presented to the Senate promptly.
Senator Mpigi Barnada, a member of the ad-hoc committee, emphasized the importance of addressing security challenges in the oil-rich region. He stressed that fixing the refineries would be futile if insecurity prevented the transportation of crude oil to them.
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