Porthacourt Refinery Back On Track 60,000 Production

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Minister of State for Petroleum, Hon Heineken Lokpobiri has stated that the Port Harcourt refinery will produce between 54,000–60, barrels of petroleum products per day when it comes on stream by the end of 2023.

Lokpobiri stated this during a working visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State at the weekend.

In a chat with newsmen, the Petroleum Minister of State said the essence of the visit was to ascertain the extent of work done.

He told newsmen that the visit was the beginning  of efforts to go round all the refineries in the country beginning from Port Harcourt.

“We will go to Warri, we will go to Kaduna and we will go to Dangote refinery where the federal government also has interest.

“Our own objective is to ensure that in the next few years the nation stops fuel importation. And that is why we are here to see the extent of work done. From what we are seeing here, Port Harcourt will come on board by the end of the year, Warri will start by the first quarter of next year and then Kaduna will come on stream towards the end of next year.

“If we add that together with Dangote refinery, we will stop fuel importation and take in substantial part of our forex. Nigerians can now have the benefit of full deregulation. The idea is to ensure that we complete these refineries on time and that is why we are here today.

“Port Harcourt refinery by the end of the year when it comes on stream will be producing 54,000-60,000bpd and then Warri will also come on stream and it will produce about 75,000bpd.

“But the whole Port Harcourt refinery will be fully rehabilitated by the end of next year because these things take time. If we don’t come we don’t know the extent of work that is being done and we believe that Nigerians should expect better supply of fuel and we believe that this project will be completed as scheduled”, he said.

On the issue of modular refineries, Lokpobiri pointed out that he was yet to have full brief on the progress of modular refineries but assured that the country will have a better deal with the Renewed Hope mantra of the President Bola Tinibu administration.

Also, Minister of State, Gas Resources, Kperikpe Ekpo, who was part of the visit said the federal government’s vision was to stop gas flaring and use the country’s enormous gas for electricity supply.

“Gas is very very important and we have it in abundance. So the issue is that of trying to gather the gas to generate power supply and other applications that we need gas in the country.

“The government is very desperate about steps that will be able to bring in foreign investors that will invest in the gas sector and of course to try and stop gas flaring. There is a policy to stop that and they (IOCs) are complying. With the brief we have received today, there is hope for Nigeria that gas flaring will stop, gas generation will increase so that we will have uninterrupted power supply in the country.

“So I am comfortable with what I have seen today. The improvement is there and they are dedicated to the work. Why we are here is that Mr. President has declared that there should be renewed hope for Nigerians and we don’t need to stay in the office rather than to come and give them the encouragement. If we are seeing is not encouraging then we speak out but what we have seen today, there is a great deal of encouragement that Nigeria will have a better deal”he said.

On CNG, the Minister encouraged investors to key into the opportunity presented by the federal government, as it will encourage green environment for the country.