President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on the successful revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery.

The refinery, which has been revamped after years of dormancy, has commenced petroleum product loading as of November 26, 2024.

The President acknowledged the crucial role played by former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries. The rehabilitation project, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2021, was awarded to an Italian company, Technimount SPA, at a cost of $1.5 billion.

President Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing the project. He commended the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for his dedication and commitment to overcoming challenges and achieving this milestone.

President Tinubu has urged NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries. This, he said, will significantly enhance domestic production capacity and make Nigeria a major energy hub.