Port Harcourt Refinery Set to Resume Production, Aims to Reduce Fuel Importation.

Port Harcourt Refinery Set to Resume Production, Aims to Reduce Fuel Importation. 

In a significant step towards energy self-sufficiency, the refurbished Port Harcourt Refinery is gearing up to recommence operations by December. According to Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the refinery's first phase rehabilitation is nearly complete, with an expected production capacity of 54,000 to 60,000 barrels of petroleum products per day. The facility inspection conducted by Lokpobiri revealed that the first phase is on track to be operational by the end of 2023.

Following the Port Harcourt Refinery's revival, the Warri and Kaduna refineries are expected to follow suit in the subsequent year. Lokpobiri announced that the Warri refinery is projected to produce around 70,000 barrels per day starting in the first quarter of the following year, while the Kaduna refinery is slated to begin operations towards the end of the same year.

The combined efforts of these refineries, coupled with the forthcoming Dangote Refinery, which boasts a substantial production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, hold the potential to eliminate the need for fuel imports. This ambitious initiative aligns with the government's objective of deregulation and reduced dependence on foreign fuel sources.

Lokpobiri emphasized the government's commitment to achieving full rehabilitation of all refineries by the end of 2024, leading to a significant boost in the nation's refining capacity. The Minister of State for Gas Resources, Kperikpe Ekpo, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the renewed focus on gas production aims to end gas flaring and augment electricity generation, thereby ensuring uninterrupted power supply across the country.

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, expressed confidence during a recent meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that the Port Harcourt Refinery will be fully operational by December. The resumption of production is contingent upon the successful completion of the rehabilitation contract between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Maire Tecnimont SpA.

With these developments, Nigeria's push towards energy self-reliance and reduced reliance on fuel imports seems promising, heralding a new era of enhanced energy security and economic growth.