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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says the Port Harcourt refinery has officially commenced crude oil processing.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NNPC said the milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for the country.
“Hearty congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and the exceptional leadership of GCEO Mele Kyari for their unwavering commitment to this transformative project. Together, we are reshaping Nigeria’s energy future!” the national oil company said.
In a social media post, Femi Soneye, NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, said truck loading will begin today.
The development comes years after the NNPC commenced rehabilitation work on May 6, 2021.
Following many failed delivery targets, the state-owned oil company on December 21, 2023, said it had completed the mechanical phase of the turnaround maintenance.
Speaking at the event held to mark the milestone, Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said production would commence after the Christmas festivities — but the plans failed.
In an interview with Reuters on January 4, 2024, Soneye said testing would be completed at the facility that month.
On March 15, Mele Kyari, NNPC’s group chief executive officer (GCEO), said the refinery would begin production by the end of the month. This also did not happen.
Four months later, Lokpobiri assured Nigerians that the refinery was in its final repair stage.
August was the last time the NNPC promised that the plant would commence operations.
TheCable had reported that the NNPC was struggling to conclude the turnaround maintenance at the refinery.
Insiders had told the publication that efforts to commence operations at the plant had suffered significant setbacks.
