Port Harcourt Refinery: NNPC keeps mum after several missed deadlines

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has kept mum over the commencement of the petroleum products rollout from Port Harcourt Refinery after several missed deadlines.

This comes after the government-owned refinery with a combined 250 barrels per day failed to kick off petroleum products production in September 2024.

Recall that in August, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajiya disclosed that Port Harcourt Refinery’s petroleum products would be for testing before it is supplied to the domestic market in September.

However, when the DAILY POST correspondent reached out to the spokesperson of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye on Tuesday for an update, he did not respond.

DAILY POST observed that the Minister of State Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri has also kept mum.

However, Maire Tecnimont SpA, the contractor overseeing the rehabilitation of the refinery, said it would provide details on the project’s completion on or before October 2, Wednesday.

The contractor’s comment came through a law firm, Olajide Oyewole LLP, in response to a letter from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who had inquired about the completion timeline for the refinery’s rehabilitation.

Earlier, the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi confirmed to DAILY POST that work was in progress at the Port Harcourt Refinery.

He, however, failed to start when the petroleum products rollout will kick off.

Recall that in July, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL had announced that the refinery, with a combined capacity of 250 barrels per day, would commence operation in August.

Earlier, NNPCL had announced March and July 2024 dates for the commencement of the refinery after its mechanical completion in December last year.

There are indications among stakeholders that the coming on stream of the Dangote Refinery and Port Harcourt Refinery will reduce the price of petrol which currently stands at between N950 and N1,100 per litre.

Recall that upon the lifting of Dangote Petrol in September, NNPCL announced fresh petrol pump prices across its retail outlets nationwide.