Nigeria’s oil sector is buzzing with renewed optimism regarding the Port Harcourt Refinery, with reports suggesting that commercial production could commence in the coming weeks.
Billy Gillis-Harry, national president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, shared this optimistic update during an exclusive interview with Daily Post on Monday.
He noted significant progress at the refinery, which has a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, during his recent visit. Gillis-Harry expressed hope that the refinery would soon begin producing petroleum products commercially, helping to ease fuel shortages nationwide.
“The Port Harcourt Refinery is preparing to produce petroleum in commercial quantities. We hope this will materialize in the coming days or weeks. I personally visited the refinery and saw the efforts being made to ensure its successful operation,” Gillis-Harry said.
Oil and gas expert Zakka Bala also weighed in, emphasizing that Nigeria’s energy security relies on the successful revitalization of government-owned refineries, including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
He contrasted the profit-driven goals of private refineries, such as Dangote Refinery, with the service-oriented mission of national refineries.
“The future of Nigeria’s energy security depends on reviving our Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries. Dangote Refinery is a private enterprise focused on profit, and its success may not align with the goals of national refineries,” Bala remarked.
This optimism follows projections from Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, who had anticipated that the Port Harcourt Refinery would begin operations in August 2024.
The refinery’s timeline had initially been set for March and July 2024, after its mechanical completion in December of the previous year.
The Nigerian government had allocated $1.5 billion for the refinery’s turnaround maintenance in 2021.
However, scrutiny has increased, with Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the Senate Committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, calling for an investigation into how this substantial amount was spent.
(allnews.ng)
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