NNPCL confirms Port Harcourt refinery begins production, loads products out
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday, announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery has fully commenced operations.
This was disclosed in a statement Dailyeconomy obtained from the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
Soneye confirmed that trucks have begun loading petroleum products which include Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Household Kerosene (HHK) or Kerosene, while other product slates will be dispatched as well.
The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari while speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the commencement of products loading at the Refinery on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, described the commencement of the loadout activities as a monumental achievement for Nigeria which signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for the country.
Kyari according to the statement thanked President Bola Tinubu, for his unwavering support and understanding towards the rehabilitation project and for his persistence to ensure energy security for the country.
Kyari also expressed profound appreciation to the NNPCL Board of Directors and the entire staff for their support and commitment, which crystallized into the streaming of the refinery. He also commended the contractors for doing a great job in ensuring that the refinery is delivered despite all challenges.
The GCEO further thanked Nigerians for their patience and for the legitimate expectations on the Company to deliver on the other refineries.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed congratulated the NNPCL for the milestone and assured of his agency’s continued support towards the completion of rehabilitation work at the other refineries.
Soneye emphasised that the PHRC rehabilitation project, is an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation & Commissioning project that is aimed at restoring the refinery to full functionality and renewal. It has achieved over 16 million manhours with zero Loss Time Injury (LTI).
