The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through its subsidiary, the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), has officially commenced operations following its extensive rehabilitation and modernisation. This milestone marks a significant achievement for Nigeria’s oil industry, as the refinery is one of the key assets in the nation’s oil processing sector. The facility, located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, is capable of processing a total of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. It operates with two main units that were originally built in 1965 and 1989, both of which have been upgraded to ensure higher efficiency and productivity.
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the old plant at the refinery has the capacity to refine 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the newly modernised plant now has the capacity to refine 150,000 bpd, making it a major player in the country’s refining operations. This operation marks the successful return of a key national asset that had been inoperative for some time due to years of neglect and lack of adequate maintenance.
It is important to note that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery was a project undertaken by the Federal Government, under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari. In March 2021, the government secured a 1.5 billion-dollar loan to fund the rehabilitation efforts, with the contract for the project being awarded to the Italian company, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of the Maire Tecnimont Group. This deal was part of the government’s broader effort to enhance Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce the country’s dependence on imported refined products. The rehabilitation of the refinery is expected to contribute to the country’s energy security and boost its domestic refining capabilities, thereby addressing some of the challenges associated with fuel shortages and price volatility in the local market.
As part of the rehabilitation project’s final stages, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari, has been actively involved in overseeing the operations, leading a team to inspect the first lifting of petroleum products from the Port Harcourt Refinery after its successful rehabilitation. This inspection is a symbolic moment in the journey of reviving Nigeria’s domestic refining sector, and it also signifies the potential for further economic growth and development in the country’s oil and gas industry.
