NNPCL postpones P’Harcourt refinery kick-off sixth time
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The Port Harcourt Refining Company, a refinery under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Rivers State, has again failed to commence operations after about six postponements, Punch reports.
Punch said it was observed that promises made to Nigerians by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC about the refinery have continued to witness multiple failures.
Since December 2023, NNPC, which is in charge of all the government refineries, has given Nigerians different dates, assuring citizens that the refinery would begin the sale of refined products soon.
In July, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, stated categorically that the refinery would come into operation in early August.
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The same Kyari said in 2019 that the NNPC would deliver all the country’s four refineries before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
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.”
However, as August nears midpoint, the refinery has yet to commence operations, creating concerns that this might be another failed promise from NNPC.
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Replying to inquiries from our correspondent on Tuesday, the NNPC said it was on course, even when the early August promise has expired.
In a chat with our correspondent, the NNPC spokesperson, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, tersely replied, “We are on course.”
Soneye did not reply to further questions, asking if he meant the refinery would still operate this month.
Punch recalls that the 210,000 barrels per day refinery was said to have reached what the NNPC called mechanical completion of rehabilitation work in December.
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