After years of setbacks and multiple missed deadlines, the Port Harcourt Refinery has officially resumed fuel production, bringing renewed hope to Nigerians.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) confirmed the development on Tuesday, announcing that truck loading of fuel products had begun.
“Port Harcourt Refinery begins production. Truck loading starts today, Tuesday,” said NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye. In an update on X (formerly Twitter), NNPCL shared: “NNPC Ltd Delivers Port Harcourt Refinery as plant begins truckout of products today, Tuesday, 26th November 2024, at 1:45 pm.”
The refinery is starting with a daily capacity of 60,000 barrels, producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel, and other petroleum products for the Nigerian market. This makes it the second petrol-producing refinery in the country, following the Dangote Refinery, which began PMS production in September.
Located in the Niger Delta region, the Port Harcourt Refinery is one of three refineries owned by the Federal Government and operated by the NNPCL. Established in 1965, the facility fell into disrepair for years before a $1.5 billion renovation project commenced in March 2021, funded by a loan from the government.
Despite earlier promises by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPCL, the refinery missed its completion deadline seven times. NNPCL recently attributed the delays to the challenges of rehabilitating a brownfield project.
Speaking about the setbacks, Soneye said: “Mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery revamp was achieved months ago, marking a significant milestone. However, unforeseen risks and challenges during the commissioning phase caused delays.”
Nigerians are optimistic that domestic refining could reduce reliance on imported fuel and lower the cost of petrol. The restart of the Port Harcourt Refinery marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s energy sector as the country works toward achieving energy self-sufficiency.
