After numerous delays, the 210,000-barrel-per-day Port-Harcourt refinery is expected to begin operations by the end of July.
The announcement was made on Monday by Chief Ukadike Chinedu, the National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria. Chinedu stated that the refinery’s reopening would boost economic activities, lower petroleum product prices, and ensure adequate supply.
Last December, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri announced the mechanical completion of the refinery, which consists of two units: a 60,000-barrel-per-day old plant and a new 150,000-barrel-per-day plant. The refinery had been shut down in March 2019 for repairs, with Italian company Maire Tecnimont overseeing the project and oil major Eni acting as a technical adviser.
In March 2024, NNPC Limited Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari indicated that the refinery would be operational within two weeks. Despite this, the refinery remained inactive two months later.
In an exclusive interview on Monday, Chinedu emphasized that the refurbishment represented a complete overhaul rather than just rehabilitation. “By the end of July, the refinery should be ready. It has been transformed into almost a brand-new facility,” he said, noting that work was progressing around the clock to meet the deadline.
The refinery’s reopening coincides with the anticipated commencement of petrol production by the Dangote Refinery at the end of June. Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, announced that Nigeria would no longer need to import petrol starting next month. The Dangote Refinery aims to meet the petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel needs of West Africa.
Nigeria currently spends around N520 billion monthly on petrol imports, totaling an annual import bill of approximately N6.2 trillion. The Port-Harcourt refinery’s operations, along with the Dangote Refinery, are expected to significantly reduce these costs.
NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer Femi Soneye stated that international regulatory approvals were the final hurdle before operations could commence. “We are only waiting for regulatory approvals. Everything else is ready, including the supply of crude oil by Shell,” Soneye said.
With the new timeline set, the Port-Harcourt refinery’s operation is eagerly awaited as it promises to enhance the nation’s energy sector and economy.