The Port Harcourt Refining Company, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has once again failed to commence operations, marking the sixth postponement of its much-anticipated restart.
Despite repeated assurances from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC, the refinery’s operational date has been continuously delayed since December 2023.
NNPC has made multiple promises to Nigerians, offering various dates when the refinery would begin producing and selling refined products, but each has come and gone without fulfillment.
In July, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, assured Nigerians that the refinery would be operational by early August.
This follows a series of previous commitments, including a 2019 promise from Kyari that all four of the country’s refineries would be fully functional by the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Speaking before the Senate in July, Kyari confidently stated, “I can confirm to you, Mr. Chairman, that by the end of the year, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products… The Port Harcourt refinery will commence production early August this year.”
However, as mid-August approaches, the refinery remains inactive, raising concerns about yet another unfulfilled promise from NNPC.
When contacted on Tuesday, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye provided a brief response, stating, “We are on course,” but did not clarify whether the refinery would still begin operations this month.
The 210,000 barrels-per-day refinery was reported to have achieved mechanical completion of its rehabilitation work in December. At that time, NNPC stated that the facility would start refining 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily after the Christmas break.
In January, Kyari announced that the refinery was undergoing testing and would be ready by the end of the month. By February, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited had completed the supply of 475,000 barrels of crude oil to the Port Harcourt refinery, raising hopes that production was imminent.
NNPC had also indicated plans to engage reputable operations and maintenance companies to run the refinery, though it remains unclear whether any bidders have been secured.
As the April deadline came and went, independent petroleum marketers speculated that production would start by the end of July.
In May, Soneye stated that regulatory approvals from international bodies were the only remaining hurdle before operations could begin.
“We are ready to go,” Soneye said, explaining that some approvals involved nuclear materials and required clearance from international nuclear authorities. “Once we get those approvals, it will start operations.”
Nigerians have expressed growing frustration over the continued inactivity of the nation’s refineries, which have remained largely moribund for years.
With the country relying on imported fuel and spending up to N2 trillion monthly, the failure to restart the Port Harcourt refinery is a significant blow.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, remarked that the Federal Government has spent $4 billion in efforts to revive the nation’s refineries.
