The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reaffirmed its readiness to begin crude oil refining at the Port Harcourt refinery by early August. This announcement was made by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, during an emergency session at the National Assembly’s joint committee on finance.
Kyari provided detailed insights into the timeline, stating that while the Port Harcourt refinery is set to commence operations in early August this year, the Kaduna refinery is scheduled to start production by December 2024.
He addressed previous announcements and maintained the authenticity of the new August date, despite having initially projected a start in March 2024. “I am not lying,” he asserted, reaffirming the new timeline.
He emphasized that with the operationalization of the Dangote refinery, Nigeria aims to achieve a production target of two million barrels per day and transition to a net exporter of petroleum products by December.
This ambitious goal underscores the strategic importance of the Port Harcourt refinery within Nigeria’s broader energy objectives.
The Port Harcourt refinery complex, located in Alesa-Eleme near Port Harcourt in Rivers State, comprises two refineries. Port Harcourt II (New Refinery) is a sophisticated conversion refinery with a nameplate distillation capacity of 7,500,000 metric tons annually (150,000 barrels per day).
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Commissioned in 1988, it was initially intended to serve as an export refinery but has since been repurposed to cater to the domestic market due to frequent interruptions in supply from Nigeria’s other refineries. Port Harcourt II is notable for its clean fuel capabilities, including the production of lead-free gasoline.
Senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPCL disclosed that the facility is currently undergoing various licensing processes. These follow the supply of crude oil to the plant after its mechanical completion in December 2023. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, confirmed that the plant is in its final rehabilitation stages.
“The mechanical work at the Port Harcourt refinery has been completed. Crude oil has been sent to the plant. What remains are licensing and compliance procedures,” Lokpobiri stated.
He explained that licensing is contingent upon a set of time frames and involves thorough inspections by officials, many of whom are international experts.
“These officials are conducting rigorous tests and ensuring all systems are operational. Their integrity and accountability are crucial, as any issues would implicate them and their insurance firms.”
This meticulous process is not entirely within the control of the NNPC or the ministry, emphasizing the importance of international regulatory standards and compliance. The complexity and precision required in restarting a refinery underscore the cautious approach being taken.
Earlier this year, in March, Mele Kyari had announced that the Port Harcourt refinery received 450,000 barrels of crude oil and was poised to begin operations in April.
However, this did not materialize as planned. Speaking at a Senate Ad-hoc Committee briefing on the Turn Around Maintenance projects of Nigeria’s refineries, Kyari explained the delays and provided assurances on the imminent start of operations.
“We achieved mechanical completion of the refinery in December. We now have crude oil stocked in the refinery and are conducting necessary regulatory compliance tests,” he said.
“This Port Harcourt refinery will start in the next two weeks. Completing the mechanical work was a significant milestone, and now we are ensuring all systems function correctly through thorough testing.”
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Kyari also mentioned that similar mechanical work has been completed at the Warri refinery, which is also undergoing regulatory compliance processes and will be operational soon.
“The Kaduna refinery will be ready by December. While we are not at the same stage as Port Harcourt or Warri, we are confident that Kaduna will be delivered on time,” he assured.
This series of developments marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s energy sector, aiming to enhance domestic refining capacity, reduce dependency on imported petroleum products, and strengthen the nation’s position in the global energy market.