- The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga, confirmed ongoing operations at the Port Harcourt Refining Company’s 150,000 barrels per day plant in Rivers State
- Onanuga assured that the 60,000 bpd refinery is running at 70% of its capacity, with plans to ramp up production. He dismisses claims of crude oil shortages at the plant
- Onanuga commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for successfully revitalising the refinery, transforming it from a near-obsolete facility into a modern operational asset
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has confirmed that work is currently underway at the 150,000 barrels per day plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State.
PHRC operates two plants: the 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) facility and the larger 150,000 bpd plant.
Onanuga further stated that the 60,000 bpd refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans in place to increase production soon. He also dismissed claims that the refinery was lacking crude oil, stating that the facility continues to receive regular supplies of crude.
The presidential aide made these remarks after participating in a fact-finding mission at the 60,000 bpd refinery on Wednesday, December 4. Following the visit, Onanuga took to social media on Thursday, November 5, posting a detailed account on X (formerly Twitter) under the title "Putting to Rest Rumours about Port Harcourt Refinery Complex: Our Fact-Finding Mission."
In the post, he shared that the team had thoroughly examined the refinery and found the facility to be in good condition, effectively debunking the misinformation circulating about its operations.
“We toured the entire complex, from the computerised control room to the loading bay, and asked detailed questions,” Onanuga explained.
“The answers we received dispelled any doubts or misconceptions. While the refinery is not currently running at full capacity, it is operating at 70 per cent, and production will be ramped up soon. Moreover, the refinery is receiving regular crude supplies, contrary to the claims of fuel shortages.”
Onanuga also praised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its efforts in reviving the refinery, which had been on the brink of becoming obsolete.
“What was once a dead asset, nearly a museum piece, has been transformed into a modern, operational facility,” he said.
In a statement made earlier this year, NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery had resumed operations at 60 per cent capacity, processing 60,000 bpd of crude, with ongoing efforts to increase production. The refinery has a total capacity of 210,000 bpd.
Onanuga and the fact-finding team also observed that the refinery processes a variety of petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel, and petrol. During the visit, samples of these products were tested to confirm their quality.
The refinery's recent overhaul has brought it up to modern standards, with several outdated components replaced, including parts of the 300km pipeline. Onanuga highlighted that some parts had not been replaced in over 27 years, underscoring the extent of the refurbishment.
The team also visited the second refinery located at Port Harcourt, which was commissioned in 1989. Although no specific timeline for its completion was provided, Onanuga expressed confidence that it would soon be operational, complementing the 60,000 bpd facility.
“The transformation of these refineries into 21st-century facilities is a testament to the hard work of NNPCL and the refinery team,” Onanuga added.
“My curiosity has been satisfied, and I commend their efforts in bringing this facility back to life.”
The fact-finding mission has, according to Onanuga, dispelled the doubts and false information surrounding the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex, reaffirming its continued contribution to Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Tanker drivers, Port Harcourt refinery authorities clash over loading delays
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported the growing dispute between the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) regarding the loading of petroleum products at the refinery.
PHRC attributed the issue to tanker drivers' reluctance to take on loads. However, The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers rejected their claims and attributed the delays to a lack of coordination in notifications.
MEMAN and IPMAN expressed their readiness to begin operations and resolve the dispute between PHRC and PTD.
