The Presidency has assured that the second refinery of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State, with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, will soon become operational as ongoing work progresses.
PHRC comprises two refineries: a 60,000bpd facility and a 150,000bpd plant.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, in a statement titled “Putting to Rest Rumours about Port Harcourt Refinery Complex: Our Fact-Finding Mission”, urged Nigerians to dismiss negative speculations about the newly revived 60,000bpd refinery. He noted that while it is not yet running at full capacity, the refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans underway to ramp up production.
“I was part of a fact-finding team that visited the 60,000 barrels daily Port Harcourt Refining Complex on Wednesday. I will now share our findings.
“Our mission was to verify the rumours circulating about the refinery’s state, and I am pleased to report that we were satisfied with what we saw.
“Our team, guided by the refinery’s Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, toured the entire complex, from the computerised control room to the loading bay and every section in between.
“We asked pointed questions and received satisfactory answers, dispelling our doubts and misconceptions. Nigerians must ignore naysayers and false information about the refinery’s operations.
“While it is not currently running at 100%, it is functioning at 70% installed capacity, with plans to increase production shortly. Furthermore, the refinery receives regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude to refine.
“During our visit, we confirmed that the refinery produces petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, LPG, diesel, and gasoline.
“The latter is blended with other products to make the petrol we use in our cars. We even tested samples of the products. The refinery’s recent overhaul has transformed it into a modern facility.
“We saw upgraded and replaced parts, including part of the 300km new pipelines. Some parts the company had not changed in 27 years have been replaced with new ones, bringing the refinery up to 21st-century standards.
“The revamping work has indeed brought the refinery back to life. What was once a 20th-century refinery has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility.
“We also visited the co-located second Port Harcourt refinery, commissioned in 1989. Workers were busy dismantling old, rusty parts and replacing them with new ones.
“Although officials declined to provide a timeline for its completion, there was an air of confidence that it would soon be operational, joining its 60,000 barrels a day counterpart. My curiosity has been satisfied.
“I commend NNPC Limited and the refinery team for reviving this dead asset, which was on the verge of becoming a museum piece. Our fact-finding mission has buried the various doubts and lies about the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex.”
The clarification and update follow controversies surrounding the revival of the 60,000 barrels per day old Port Harcourt refinery.
Last month, Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), stated that the new refinery is expected to be operational by mid-2025.
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