Over 200 trucks are scheduled to load petroleum products from the Port Harcourt Refinery which commenced production today, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has confirmed.
According to NNPC Ltd., the trucks are currently loading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel and Household Kerosene (HHK) or Kerosene, while other product slates will be dispatched as well.
A source who monitored the truck-out of the Products on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 in Port Harcourt told TheFact Daily that about four trucks had so far loaded the products as at the time of filing the report.
The nation’s oldest refinery commenced production from phase one, out of the three phases after over two years of undergoing rehabilitation.
Located in Alesa Eleme, in Rivers State, the company operates two oil refineries, including an old plant commissioned in 1965 that can process 60,000 barrels (9,500 m) per stream day, as well as the new plant commissioned in 1989, which has a capacity of 150,000 barrels (24,000 m) per stream day.
Both oil refineries possess a combined capacity of 210,000 barrels (33,000 m) per stream day.
The refinery stopped production in 1999 forcing the country to depend on imports for refined products.
In March 2021, the Federal Government approved a $1 5 billion loan to rehabilitate the refinery, which has missed several production rollout deadlines before today’s announcement.
Speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the commencement of products loading at the Refinery in Port Harcourt, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mr. Mele Kyari 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.
The GCEO particularly thanked President Bola Ahmed 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 deep appreciation to the NNPC Ltd 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 (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed congratulated the NNPC Ltd for the milestone and assured of his agency’s continued support towards the completion of rehabilitation work at the other refineries.
The PHRC rehabilitation project, is an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation & Commissioning (EPCIC) 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).
