RIVERS: Work ongoing on P’Harcourt refinery’s second plant – Presidency

PHRC operates two refineries: one with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and the other with 150,000 barrels per day.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, issued a statement titled “Putting to Rest Rumours about Port Harcourt Refinery Complex: Our Fact-Finding Mission,” urging Nigerians to disregard negative comments regarding the recently revived 60,000 barrels per day refinery in Port Harcourt.

He noted that while the refinery is not operating at full capacity, it is currently functioning at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to boost production soon.

“I was part of a fact-finding team that visited the Port Harcourt Refining Complex on Wednesday, and I would like to share our findings.

“Our mission was to verify the rumors about the refinery’s condition, and I’m pleased to report that we were satisfied with what we observed.

“Guided by the refinery’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja, our team toured the entire facility, including the computerized control room and loading bay.

“We asked specific questions and received satisfactory answers that dispelled our doubts and misconceptions. Nigerians should ignore naysayers and misinformation about the refinery’s operations.

“Although it is not currently running at full capacity, it is operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans for increased production soon. Additionally, the refinery is receiving regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude for refining.

“During our visit, we confirmed that the refinery produces several petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, LPG, diesel, and gasoline, which is blended with other products to create the petrol we use in our vehicles. We even tested samples of these products. The recent overhaul has upgraded the refinery to a modern facility.

“We observed that many parts, including sections of the 300km new pipelines, have been upgraded or replaced. Some components that hadn’t been changed in 27 years have been modernized, bringing the refinery up to 21st-century standards.

“The revamping has indeed revitalized the refinery, transforming it from a 20th-century facility into a state-of-the-art operation.

“We also visited the second Port Harcourt refinery, commissioned in 1989, where workers were actively dismantling old, rusty components and replacing them with new ones.

“While officials did not provide a specific timeline for its completion, there was a strong sense of confidence that it would soon be operational, joining the 60,000 barrels per day facility. My curiosity has been satisfied.

“I commend NNPC Limited and the refinery team for reviving this once-dormant asset, which was on the brink of becoming obsolete. Our fact-finding mission has dispelled the various doubts and falsehoods surrounding the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex.”

This clarification comes amidst ongoing controversies regarding the revival of the 60,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt refinery.

Last month, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), stated that the new refinery is expected to be operational by mid-2025.