Port Harcourt refinery resumes production, loads petrol, kerosene, others

• NNPCL delivers Port Harcourt refinery, loads  petrol, kerosene, others 

Bamidele Famoofo

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) resumed production at the Port Harcourt Refinery and Petrochemical Company on Tuesday, following the successful completion of a massive rehabilitation of the 210,000-barrel-per-day refining complex.

A statement by NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, on Tuesday, described the milestone as the fulfilment of NNPCL’s pledge of re-streaming the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), signalling the commencement of crude oil processing from the plant and delivery of petroleum products into the market.

Specifically, the refinery began the loading of petroleum products which include Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel and Household Kerosene (HHK) or Kerosene, while other product slates were set to be dispatched as well.

Speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the commencement of product loading at the refinery in Port Harcourt, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mr Mele Kyari, described the commencement of the loadout activities as a monumental achievement for Nigeria, signifying a new era of energy independence and economic growth for the country.

“Today marks a monumental achievement for Nigeria as the Port Harcourt Refinery officially commences crude oil processing. This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation,” he said.

The GCEO particularly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support and understanding towards the rehabilitation project and for his persistence in ensuring energy security for the country.

Kyari also expressed deep appreciation to the NNPC Ltd Board of Directors and the entire staff for their support and commitment, which crystallised into the streaming of the refinery.

“Hearty congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and the exceptional leadership of the GCEO, Mele Kyari, for their unwavering commitment to this transformative project. Together we are reshaping Nigeria’s energy future,” he added.

The GCEO further commended the contractors for doing a great job in ensuring that the refinery was delivered despite all challenges, adding that Nigerians also deserved accolades for their patience and the legitimate expectations of the company to deliver on the other refineries.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, congratulated the NNPC Ltd. for the milestone and gave the assurance that his agency would continue to support the ongoing rehabilitation work at the other refineries.

“The PHRC rehabilitation project is an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation & Commissioning (EPCIC) project that is aimed at restoring the refinery to full functionality and renewal. It has achieved over 16 million manhours with zero Loss Time Injury (LTI),” said Soneye, who had earlier in the day shared a video showing the refinery operating at full capacity with workers on site.

The resumption of refining operations marked the end of a long wait for Nigerians and fulfilled NNPCL’s promise to deliver a fully rehabilitated refinery capable of working at maximum capacity.

He described the completion of the refinery’s rehabilitation as a new chapter for Nigeria’s energy security and economic growth, noting that it would greatly enhance fuel supply stability and foster competition in the downstream sector.

Earlier, NNPCL had informed the public that mechanical work at the refinery had been completed, raising expectations that production would soon begin.

In March of this year, the GCEO announced that the refinery had received 450,000 barrels of crude oil and was prepared to start operations.

However, the start of production was delayed due to the need for test runs and regulatory approvals from international bodies, among other factors.

The refinery consists of two units: the old plant, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (BPD), and the newly rehabilitated plant, which has a capacity of 150,000 BPD.

The refinery had been shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repairs, after the Nigerian government contracted Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to review the complex, with oil major Eni serving as the technical adviser.

Soneye expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their steadfast support throughout the refinery’s rehabilitation, affirming that under the leadership of the GCEO, the oil company remains fully committed to ensuring the nation’s energy security as its top priority.