Port Harcourt Refinery to Begin Operations in July After Multiple Delay
The long-anticipated commencement of operations at the 210,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery is slated for the end of July, according to Chief Ukadike Chinedu, National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). This development follows several postponed deadlines.
Chief Chinedu announced on Monday that the refinery’s activation would boost economic activities, reduce petroleum product prices, and ensure a steady supply. “The refinery is almost ready and will start producing by the end of July,” he stated.
The Port Harcourt refinery, which includes two units with a combined capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, was shut down in March 2019 for repair works. Despite previous assurances, such as the one from NNPC Limited CEO Mele Kyari in March 2024, the refinery had not yet commenced operations.
Chinedu explained that the refinery had undergone extensive maintenance, with efforts being made to meet the new July deadline. “The facility is 99 per cent ready,” he confirmed.
The new timeline coincides with the planned petrol production start by the Dangote Refinery in June. Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, assured that the refinery would meet Nigeria’s petrol and diesel needs, eliminating the need for imports.
NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, mentioned that regulatory approvals from international bodies were the only remaining hurdles. “Mechanical completion has been done, and all pipes are working; we are only waiting for regulatory approvals,” Soneye explained.
