The Port Harcourt Refining Company, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in Rivers State, has once again failed to start operations despite numerous delays, according to The PUNCH.
Promises made by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC regarding the refinery’s operations have repeatedly fallen short. Since December 2023, NNPC has provided various assurances to the public about the refinery’s imminent start-up, but these promises have not materialized.
In July, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, assured that the refinery would commence operations in early August. This is a significant contrast to Kyari’s 2019 pledge that NNPC would revamp all four of the country’s refineries before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
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While appearing before the senate recently in July, Kyari boasted, “I can confirm to you, Mr Chairman, that by the end of the year, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products.
“Specific to NNPC refineries, we have spoken to a number of your committees, and it is impossible to have the Kaduna refinery come into operation before December, it will get to December, both Warri and Kaduna, but that of Port Harcourt will commence production early August this year.”
As August approaches its midpoint, the refinery has still not started operations, raising doubts about whether this will turn out to be another unfulfilled promise from NNPC.
In response to inquiries from The Punch on Tuesday, NNPC maintained that they are on track, despite the missed early August deadline.
NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye briefly stated, “We are on course” when contacted by The Punch.
However, Soneye did not address additional questions about whether this means the refinery will become operational within the current month.
