The Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) has revealed the major reason behind the delay in the revamping of the country’s refinery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In an interview monitored by Investors King on Monday, November 18, the NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, detailed that the refinery’s revamp was completed months ago.
The NNPC said, “You may recall that mechanical completion of the PHRC revamp was successfully achieved several months ago, marking a significant milestone in the project. Following this, we began the commissioning of critical equipment and process units.”
Speaking on the challenges hindering the completion of the refinery, Soneye stated: “These issues have since been effectively resolved, and commissioning activities have resumed.”
The NNPC chief assured Nigerians that the company is determined to complete the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) which will help boost local production and reduce the nation’s reliance on imported petrol.
“Work is being carried out around the clock to ensure the successful completion of this critical project,” Soneye concluded.
The NNPC chief, however, refused to give a new date for the completion of the refinery only responding with “Shortly,” when asked for the date the Port Harcourt Refinery will begin operations.
Soneye’s statement comes two months after the petroleum company missed the September completion deadline it promised Nigerians.
Recall that after several promises to restart operations in the Port Harcourt Refinery, the NNPC continues to leave Nigerians disappointed further reducing the people’s hope for cheap petrol.
NNPC’s numerous failed promises started under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari. Then, the petroleum company had promised that the refineries would be functional before the end of the administration in May 2023.
However, the most recent date, which marked the seventh, was promised by the Chief Financial Officer of the NNPC, Umar Ajiya, who said the Port Harcourt refinery would commence operations in September 2024.