In a recent announcement, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State has successfully begun crude oil processing. The commencement of crude oil processing at the refinery marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to revitalize the country’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Femi Soneye In a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the successful commencement of crude oil processing at the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State.
Soneye, revealed that the Port Harcourt Refinery will initially operate at 60 percent capacity, processing 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd).
In his words, “Today marks a monumental achievement for Nigeria as the Port Harcourt Refinery officially commences crude oil processing. This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation.
“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!”
Soneye further added that the Port Harcourt Refinery’s truck loading operations will commence on Tuesday. He also expressed that NNPCL is “working tirelessly” to restore the Warri Refinery, another vital refinery in Nigeria, to full operational capacity in the near future.
The Port Harcourt Refinery’s commencement of crude oil processing represents a significant milestone in the refinery’s years-long rehabilitation process, which commenced on May 6, 2021, and faced several delays.
