The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery Company is set to resume operations by December this year. This was revealed during his inspection of the rehabilitation progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company plant in Rivers State, as reported by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Senator Lokpobiri, alongside Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, expressed confidence in the rehabilitation progress and stated that the Port Harcourt Refinery would be operational by the end of the year. He also mentioned that the Warri Refinery is expected to be functional by the end of the first quarter of the following year, and the Kaduna Refinery by the end of that same year.
Lokpobiri emphasized that when combined with the Dangote Refinery, these efforts will lead to reduced fuel imports, providing Nigerians with the benefits of deregulation.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, stressed the company’s commitment to restoring the refineries to their optimal levels, viewing it as a national goal.
Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo highlighted the importance of petroleum products to the economy and the nation’s well-being, urging collaboration to ensure refinery functionality.
The collective effort towards refinery restoration is expected to enhance petroleum product availability, reduce imports, and contribute to Nigeria becoming a net petroleum products exporter by 2024.