ICYMI: Port Harcourt refinery at final rehabilitation stage, says Lokpobiri

Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), says the Port Harcourt refinery is at its final rehabilitation stage.

TheCable had reported that the presidency recently expressed concern over the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to deliver critical projects, including the completion of the Port Harcourt refinery.

Speaking during a press briefing on July 12, Lokpobiri said it often takes time before refineries start pumping out refined products after the completion of mechanical work.

“Port Harcourt refinery is still in the final stage of rehabilitation. After the flares at the refinery in December (2023), a lot of work has to be done,” he said.

“Recall that Dangote refinery was commissioned by (former) President Buhari before he left. But when did they start producing products? It took a long while.

“So it’s not just as easy as Nigerians may think. The best example is that between when Buhari commissioned the Dangote refinery and when it started bringing the products it took a long time.”

Lokpobiri said, within a short time, the country would get clarity on the progress of operations at the refinery.  

The minister said despite regularly receiving updates from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited regarding the plant’s status, he had always enquired about the refinery’s projected completion date.

“I would like you to also go to NNPC. They awarded the contract. They report to me. But they awarded the contract. They are the people who are paying for the contract,” he said.

This is crucial since it is always preferable to have accurate information directly from the source, Lokpobiri said.

“The same question people are asking me is what I’m also asking them (NNPC). When are we going to actually get this thing done? But they always said, look, Dangote refinery took some time. So it’s not just as easy as we think,” the minister added.

“And I think all of you here are witnesses to the Dangote refinery. When it was inaugurated by Buhari and when they started bringing our products. Even up till now, they haven’t started bringing out PMS. It takes time. But our own as a government is to ensure that we support them in any way we can.”

He, however, assured that the government was making every effort to see to it that the refinery started releasing refined petroleum products on a regular basis, as this would help the nation’s economy.

The NNPC completed the mechanical phase of the turnaround maintenance at the Port Harcourt refinery on December 21, 2023.