The Port Harcourt refinery is still undergoing test runs to ensure that it is fully ready for commercial operations, the media reported on Tuesday.
“We have said that the Port Harcourt Refinery has been completed. Test running is ongoing. It is targeted at ensuring that everything, including the lines, is in perfect condition. It is when everything is confirmed to be fine that supply of crude for refining can start,” Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC Ltd. oil and gas company, Olufemi Oladapo Soneye reportedly said.
However, the refinery was expected to resume operations after a turnaround maintenance in December 2023, the media reported.
Earlier, the NNPC announced the successful completion of the mechanical repair of the Area 5 Plant, a critical component of the refinery.
"Rehabilitation work has been ongoing at the Refinery for over two years and the NNPC Ltd. had pledged to complete Phase One of the project (mechanical completion and flare start-up) of Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5) by 31st December 2023," the NNPC said in a statement.
As of December 15th, 2023, 77.4% of the overall rehabilitation project and 84.4% of the Area 5 Plant were fully completed, according to the NNPC.
Moreover, Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), said the restart of the refinery will have a positive impact on the nation's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry, as LPG, which is commonly referred to as cooking gas, is a major by-product of the refinery.
In early November, Nigeria's Dangote refinery — the largest on the continent — began trial operations and received its first crude feed in December.
Together, these two refineries, along with other smaller plants, will enable the country to stop importing fuel by next year.
"The Port Harcourt Refinery when completed is expected to produce about 54 to 60 barrels per day, while Warri refinery when it comes on stream by February, 2024 will produce 75 barrels of oil per day. If we add that to Dangote refinery we will be able to stop fuel imports and Nigeria can now have the benefits of full deregulation," Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, said in late August.