The Nigerian government on Thursday announced the “mechanical completion” and the “flare start-off” of the country’s biggest crude refinery in Port Harcourt.
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil), made the announcement during a media tour of the Port Harcourt refinery on Thursday.
“Just to announce to Nigerians the fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream phase one of the Port Harcourt refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase two in 2024. We happily announced the mechanical completion and the flare start-off on the 20th of December 2023,” Mr Lokpobiri said on Thursday.
The Port Harcourt Refineries comprise two units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant 150,000 bpd, both summing up to 210,000 bpd.
Speaking on Thursday, the minister explained that production of petroleum products at the refinery will commence after the Christmas break.
Mr Lokpobiri said “This heralds the commencement of production of petroleum products after the Christmas break. We want to thank Nigerians for their patience and trust in the NNPC to deliver on her promise and mandate of rehabilitating our refineries.
“This is also another landmark of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Congratulations to NNPC and congratulations to Nigerians.”
Also speaking on Thursday, the Board Chairman of NNPC Ltd, Pius Akinyelure, expressed satisfaction about the new development.
Mr Akinyelure said his team promised President Bola Tinubu that the refinery would begin operation in 2023.
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