ICYMI: Ignore naysayers, P’Harcourt refinery facility working, Presidency tells Nigerians
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has confirmed that work is ongoing at the Port Harcourt Refining Company's 150,000 barrels-per-day plant in Rivers State.The PHRC consists of two facilities: a 60,000 barrel-per-day plant and a 150,000 barrel-per-day plant.
Onanuga stated that the refinery, which produces 60,000 barrels per day, is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to increase production soon.
Onanuga revealed this during a fact-finding visit to the refinery, which produces 60,000 barrels per day, on Wednesday.
He also stated that the refinery receives a consistent supply of crude oil, contrary to claims of a shortage.
In a post titled "Putting to Rest Rumours about Port Harcourt Refinery Complex: Our Fact-Finding Mission" on Thursday, the presidential aide stated that the team's fact-finding mission had dispelled the lies and doubts about the refinery.
He mentioned that the team was pleased with the state of the refinery.
Onanuga stated, "I was part of a fact-finding team that visited the 60,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt Refining Complex on Wednesday. I'll now share our findings.
"Our team, led by the refinery's Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, toured the entire complex, from the computerised control room to the loading bay and everywhere in between. We asked pointed questions and received satisfactory responses, dispelling our doubts and misconceptions.
"Nigerians must ignore doubters and misinformation about the refinery's operations. While it is not currently running at full capacity, it is operating at 70% installed capacity, with plans to increase production soon.
"Furthermore, the refinery receives regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude to refine."
He praised NNPCL for reviving "this dead asset," which was "on the verge of becoming a museum piece."
Olufemi Soneye of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced the start of the Port Harcourt refinery in November.
Soneye stated that the refinery began operations at 60% capacity, with plans to increase production.
A NNPCL spokesperson stated that the refinery is currently processing 60,000 barrels of crude per day, with a total capacity of 210,000 barrels per day.
During the visit, Onanuga confirmed that the team checked the refinery's production of various petroleum products such as kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel and petrol.
The latter is combined with other ingredients to create the petrol we use in our cars. We even tested samples of the products," he stated.
"The refinery's recent overhaul has upgraded it to a modern facility. We saw upgraded and replaced components, including a portion of the 300km new pipelines.
"Some parts the company had not changed in 27 years have been replaced with new ones, bringing the refinery up to 21st-century standard."
The spokesperson stated that the revamping work has "indeed brought the refinery back to life," and that what was once a 20th-century refinery has been transformed into a cutting-edge facility.
Onanuga added that the team also went to the second Port Harcourt refinery, which opened in 1989 and was actively dismantling old, rusty parts and installing new components.
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