By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the rehabilitation of the 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has surpassed 90% completion.
This update was provided by the Group Executive Vice President, Downstream, Isiyaku Abdullahi, during a facility tour on Monday by labour leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State.
The milestone follows the resumption of operations at the older 60,000 bpd facility within the Port Harcourt refinery, marking significant progress in Nigeria’s pursuit of energy sufficiency. The PHRC officially began operations on November 26, 2024, after multiple delays, and has since commenced the export of refined petroleum products, delivering its first cargo of low-sulfur straight-run fuel oil to Dubai-based Gulf Transport and Trading Limited.
Abdullahi expressed optimism about the completion timeline, emphasizing the refinery’s strategic importance. “The upgraded facility will transform Nigeria into a net exporter of refined petroleum products. Combining the 60,000 bpd and 150,000 bpd plants will provide a total refining capacity of 210,000 bpd, bolstering domestic supply and creating opportunities for export,” he stated.
He assured the labour leaders of the quality of the ongoing work, describing the refinery as a state-of-the-art facility. “We are committed to ensuring value for money and achieving a seamless refining process with multiple economic benefits,” he added.
The Managing Director of the refinery, Ibrahim Onoja, highlighted the scale and significance of the new facility, which was originally commissioned in 1989. “Rehabilitation of the new Port Harcourt refinery is progressing alongside the completed work on the older plant. This advanced stage reflects our commitment to restoring Nigeria’s refining capacity,” Onoja said during the tour.
The rehabilitation of the refinery is a critical component of NNPCL’s broader strategy to reduce fuel import dependency, address domestic fuel shortages, and enhance the nation’s energy security.
