The Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has announced that the Port Harcourt refinery is set to resume operations in approximately two weeks.
Kyari provided this update during a press briefing following his appearance before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the country’s refinery Turn Around Maintenance projects.
Kyari emphasized that mechanical works have been successfully completed on the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries. He assured that the Kaduna refinery would commence operations by December.
“We are committed to fulfilling our promises on the rehabilitation of these refineries,” Kyari stated. “The mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt refinery, as scheduled in December, has been achieved. Crude oil has already been stocked in the refinery, and regulatory compliance tests are underway. I can confidently say that the Port Harcourt refinery will be operational in the next two weeks.”
He further mentioned progress on the Warri refinery, indicating that it is also undergoing regulatory compliance processes and will soon be ready. Regarding the Kaduna refinery, Kyari assured that it would be operational by December, although mechanical work completion for Kaduna is yet to be reached.
Kyari informed the Senate that over 450,000 barrels of oil have been stocked into the Port Harcourt refinery, demonstrating confidence in its integrity despite security concerns. Meanwhile, the Senate has refuted allegations of fraud in the Turn Around Maintenance of the nation’s refineries, stating that ongoing efforts by the NNPC have not revealed any fraudulent practices.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chairman of the Senate ad-hoc panel, assured colleagues that progress is being made on refinery rehabilitation. He announced plans for committee members to visit all refineries to assess progress firsthand, promising a comprehensive report to be presented soon.
In response to concerns raised by Senator Mpigi Barnada regarding security challenges in the oil-rich region, Kyari acknowledged the importance of addressing security issues to ensure the smooth operation of the refineries. He affirmed that the NNPC is actively responding to these challenges to safeguard refinery operations.
