Presidency Provides Update on Port Harcourt Refinery Operations, Commends NNPC for Revitalization Efforts
The Presidency has provided an update on the ongoing operations of the Port Harcourt Refinery, revealing that work is actively progressing at the plant, which has the capacity to process 150,000 barrels per day.
According to Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, the 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery is currently operating at 70 percent of its installed capacity, with plans underway to increase production further.
Onanuga shared these details after participating in a fact-finding mission to the Port Harcourt Refining Company’s 60,000bpd refinery in Rivers State on Wednesday. He clarified that the refinery is receiving regular crude oil supplies, contrary to claims suggesting a lack of feedstock. This development marks a significant milestone for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which has been instrumental in revitalizing the refinery that had once been on the brink of obsolescence.
“We toured the entire complex, from the computerized control room to the loading bay, under the guidance of the refinery’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja,” Onanuga stated. He urged Nigerians to disregard negative reports and misinformation regarding the refinery’s operations, emphasizing that while the refinery is not yet running at full capacity, it is performing well at 70 percent capacity, with plans to ramp up production in the near future.
Onanuga further highlighted the refinery’s production capabilities, confirming that it processes a variety of petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel, and petrol. “The petrol produced is blended with other products to create the fuel used in vehicles,” he explained, adding that product samples were even tested during the visit.
The Special Adviser commended NNPCL for the extensive overhaul that has transformed the refinery into a modern facility. This includes significant upgrades and the replacement of parts that had not been changed in 27 years, such as a new 300km pipeline system. These improvements have brought the refinery up to 21st-century standards, positioning it for greater operational efficiency.
Onanuga also discussed the second Port Harcourt refinery, which was commissioned in 1989, stating that workers were actively dismantling and replacing outdated components as part of the ongoing rehabilitation process. While no official timeline for the completion of these efforts was provided, Onanuga expressed confidence that the second plant would soon join the 60,000bpd refinery in full operation.
“My curiosity has been satisfied, and I commend NNPC Limited and the refinery team for bringing this ‘dead asset’ back to life. It was on the verge of becoming a museum piece,” he concluded.
The Port Harcourt Refining Company operates two plants, with one processing 60,000 barrels per day and the other, the larger 150,000bpd plant. The 60,000bpd facility has already started operations at 60 percent capacity, with ongoing efforts to increase production output.
