Report: Shell resumes oil supply to P’Harcourt refinery… 475k barrels delivered

Shell Nigeria says it has resumed the supply of crude oil from its Bonny export terminal to Port Harcourt refinery.

Bamidele Odugbesan, Shell’s spokesperson, spoke to Reuters on Friday.

Odugbesan said oil deliveries to the refinery were made this week.

Also, Osita Nnajiofor, Shell’s Bonny oil terminal manager, in a statement on Friday, said a total of 475,000 barrels of oil was delivered to the refinery on January 18, 2024. 

“Future supplies from Bonny oil and gas terminal would be guided by the demand for the product,” he said.

According to the report, the refinery is undergoing repairs and is almost set for a restart, adding that it will start off processing 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil, before ramping up to its full capacity of 210,000 bpd later in 2024.

The 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity refinery was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.

The plant commenced operations with the production of diesel and aviation fuel, on January 12, 2024 — after receiving six shipments of crude from suppliers, including Shell. 

Meanwhile, on January 15, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said it would outsource the Port Harcourt refinery to a private firm.

NNPC said it is seeking credible operations and maintenance (O&M) companies to operate and maintain the refiner to ensure sustainability towards meeting the country’s fuel supply and energy security needs.