New Port Harcourt Refinery Over 90% Complete, Says NNPC Boss

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the rehabilitation of the new Port Harcourt refinery has surpassed 90% completion. This was revealed during a visit by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the facility in Rivers State.

Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, represented by the Executive Vice-President (Downstream), Isiyaku Abudulai, emphasized the importance of the project. He stated that once completed, the refinery would operate at a state-of-the-art level comparable to leading refineries globally, with full compliance to health and safety standards.

The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) operates two refineries with a combined crude processing capacity of 210,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd)—60,000 bpsd from the older plant and 150,000 bpsd from the newer facility. Kyari explained that the ongoing rehabilitation, led by the contractor Tecnimont SPA, would restore the refinery to its full capacity.

Kyari underscored the impact of the refinery’s operations on the Nigerian economy, highlighting its role in achieving self-sufficiency in petroleum product supply and supporting exports. He noted that when the facility becomes fully operational, it will enhance local consumption of refined products, particularly petrol, while reducing the need for imports.

The NNPCL has also established a dedicated technical operations and maintenance (O&M) team to ensure the refinery’s long-term performance. Kyari stressed that this team would handle asset replacements and ensure the facility is maintained to international standards. Additionally, he mentioned plans to engage globally recognized O&M professionals to further bolster the refinery’s efficiency.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to best practices and ensuring that the Port Harcourt refinery sets a benchmark for refinery operations worldwide.