The Port Harcourt Refinery Complex has made significant strides in its operations, a fact-finding team led by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga revealed after a visit on Wednesday. According to him, his team sought to address widespread rumours surrounding the refinery’s functionality and state of repair.
Guided by the refinery’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja, the delegation toured the entire facility, including the computerised control room, the loading bay, and other vital sections. “Our doubts have been dispelled,” Onanuga remarked, emphasizing that claims of complete dysfunction were unfounded.
While acknowledging that the refinery is not operating at full capacity, Onanuga and his team confirmed it is functioning at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up production. They also refuted allegations of crude oil shortages, affirming that the refinery receives regular crude supplies to sustain operations.
The refinery currently produces a range of petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, LPG, diesel, and gasoline. Samples tested during the visit proved the refinery’s outputs meet quality standards. Gasoline produced onsite is blended with other components to create vehicle-grade petrol.
The team noted the impact of recent overhaul efforts, which have modernized the facility. Outdated equipment, including parts unchanged for 27 years, has been replaced, and a 300-kilometer pipeline network has been upgraded. “What was once a 20th-century facility is now a state-of-the-art refinery,” Onanuga noted.
The delegation also inspected the adjacent refinery, commissioned in 1989, where workers were actively replacing old machinery with new components. Though no completion timeline was provided, officials expressed confidence in its eventual resumption, complementing the already functional 60,000 barrels-per-day refinery.
Onanuga commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the refinery team for their efforts in reviving a once-dormant asset. “This facility was on the verge of becoming a museum piece. Today, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved with commitment and expertise,” he said.
The findings lay to rest rumours of the refinery’s dysfunction, portraying a revived complex poised to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s petroleum production.
