The Federal Government has reiterated that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd will resume operations by December.
This reflects the government’s commitment to ending the importation of petroleum products and intensifying efforts to restore the nation’s local refining capacity.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), made this announcement during an inspection of the rehabilitation progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd plant in Port Harcourt.
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The Minister, accompanied by his counterpart, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), as well as Ambassador Gabriel T. Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., expressed confidence that the PHRC plant will resume operations by December this year, given the substantial progress achieved in its rehabilitation project.
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“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year.
“Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,” the Minister assured.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt refinery. He highlighted that once all the refineries are operational again, Nigerians will experience an improved supply of petroleum products, leading to domesticated foreign exchange and an enhanced economy.
This statement follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent assurance to organized labor to halt their nationwide protest. President Tinubu promised that the Port Harcourt refinery would be operational by December.
During the visit on Friday, Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., emphasized that restoring the refineries to their optimal levels is a national aspiration, and the Company remains fully dedicated to achieving that goal.
“We are aware of our nation’s challenges in terms of fuel supply. But we are not here to give excuses. We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity.
“We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said: “We are here to go into the field. Yesterday was the era of subsidies. Today, we don’t have subsidies. Today, people are in a desperate situation to heave a sigh of relief; and see how to live. You all know that petrol is very vital to our economy. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the refineries are working,” he stated.
