Port Harcourt Refinery: Nigerian Marketers Provides Update on Potential Kick-off

The Port Harcourt Refinery's rehabilitation has been a focal point of discussion among Nigerian oil marketers, particularly in light of the numerous missed deadlines for its operational kick-off.

As of October 1, 2024, major progress has been reported by Abubakar Maigandi, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Maigandi emphasized that "there is serious progress going on there" and that "the way I see the Port Harcourt Refinery, very soon they too will start fuel production but I can’t say the date."

Despite these optimistic updates, the refinery has faced several setbacks. Initially, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had announced various commencement dates, including March, July, and August 2024, following the mechanical completion of the refinery in December 2023.

The most recent missed deadline was in September 2024, attributed to certain "linkages" that needed repair. Maigandi noted, "They intended to start fuel production but with certain linkages. Now they are repairing the linkages to make things intact."

The refinery, which boasts a combined capacity of 250 barrels per day, is a critical component of Nigeria's petroleum sector. The ongoing $1.5 billion rehabilitation project has not only drawn scrutiny from the Nigerian Senate but also highlighted broader issues of infrastructure development and governmental oversight within the country's oil industry.