But the machinery had yet to begin operations two months after he made the promise.
By Nydra Ayibapreye
The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) announced that the 210,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations by the end of July.
Ukadike Chinedu, the IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, revealed this on Monday, stating that the refinery’s operations would lower petroleum product prices, ensure adequate supply, and boost economic activities.
In December 2023, Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, informed Nigerians that the refinery’s mechanical and flare start-up had been completed.
The refinery consists of two units: the old plant with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and the new plant with 150,000 barrels per day.
The refinery was shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works, with Italy’s Maire Tecnimont as the technical adviser and oil major Eni as the technical adviser.
In March this year, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), stated he would announce the refinery’s operations within about two weeks.
But the machinery had yet to begin operations two months after he made the promise.
The PUNCH reports that in an interview on Monday, the IPMAN spokesperson said that the work done represented a complete turnaround, not just rehabilitation, emphasising that every effort would be made to meet the July deadline.
Ukadike was quoted as saying, “Yes when we visited the place, the MD told us that the refinery was almost ready and by the end of July, they would start producing. It has been turned into a new one. They changed all the armoured cable to brand new and everything there is almost like a brand-new refinery.
“The turnaround on maintenance is very massive and the job is being done day and night. All hands are on deck to make sure that they meet that target. By the end of July the refinery should be ready.”
When he was reminded of several promises by the government to kick start the project, Ukadike said, “Yes, there have been delays but they didn’t tell us any reason for the delay of the last deadline given in April.
“They are not facing any challenges at all; I can say the refinery is 99 percent ready.
“What we want is competition. I am very sure that with the two refineries, the price of petrol will be reduced. Dangote is coming soon and the Port Harcourt refinery is almost ready too and that is very good. We need that competition for the benefit of the nation.”
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