The Port Harcourt Refinery Company has finally commenced fuel production after seven postponements. The refinery promises to supply approximately 200 trucks of fuel daily, with around one million liters of refined products released on Tuesday.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited unveiled the revamped refinery, which has been upgraded with modern equipment. The facility has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity.
According to Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, the bigger refinery in the Eleme complex, with a 150,000-capacity, is yet to be completed. Kyari declined to provide a timeline for the completion of the project.
During the unveiling ceremony, stakeholders, including marketers and regulators, witnessed the loading of trucks at the gantry. The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, expressed satisfaction with the development, stating that the refinery would promote healthy competition in the downstream sector.
Petroleum marketers have commended the NNPC and President Bola Tinubu for the feat. The marketers expressed optimism that the commencement of production at the Port Harcourt refinery would usher in job opportunities, boost the economy, and trigger competition in the downstream sector.
President Tinubu has urged the NNPC to expedite the reactivation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries. The President commended the NNPC on the successful revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery, acknowledging the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all refineries.
