The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has officially announced the resumption of crude oil processing at the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State. This marks a significant milestone for the country’s energy sector.
Femi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPCL, made the announcement on Tuesday, revealing that the refinery will operate at 60 percent capacity, processing 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd).
“Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Production; Truck Loading Starts Today, Tuesday,” Soneye posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He described the development as a “monumental achievement” for Nigeria, celebrating the progress toward energy independence and economic growth.
In his statement, Soneye extended congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPCL Board, and Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari for their dedication to the project. “Together, we are reshaping Nigeria’s energy future,” he wrote.
Additionally, the NNPCL announced that truck loading of petroleum products would also commence on Tuesday. The company assured the public of ongoing efforts to revive the Warri Refinery, with plans for full restoration soon.
This achievement comes after repeated delays in the refinery’s rehabilitation, which had been a source of concern for many Nigerians. The Port Harcourt Refinery’s revival is part of a larger effort to reduce the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products and bolster the local economy.
However, the NNPCL did not specify a timeline for completing similar rehabilitation efforts at other refineries, including the Kaduna Refinery, which is undergoing a $741 million upgrade.
The resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery is seen as a critical step toward improving Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency. With additional refineries set to come online, the government hopes to address domestic fuel shortages and reduce foreign exchange expenditures on fuel imports.
This development is expected to significantly impact Nigeria’s petroleum industry and economy in the coming months.
