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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has attributed the prolonged delays in operationalizing the Port Harcourt Refinery to unforeseen challenges, despite previous assurances of its completion by September 2024.
Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, explained in an interview on Monday that the rehabilitation of the facility, a brownfield project, encountered significant risks during the commissioning of critical equipment and process units. He emphasized that the mechanical phase of the project had been completed months ago, marking a crucial milestone.
“Mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery was achieved successfully, which was a significant milestone. However, like most brownfield projects of this scale and complexity, we encountered unforeseen risks and challenges,” Soneye said.
He reassured Nigerians that these issues had been resolved, and commissioning activities had resumed. According to him, work is ongoing around the clock to ensure the refinery’s eventual completion. When pressed for a timeline, Soneye responded, “Shortly.”
NNPCL, however, refrained from issuing new deadlines after failing to meet previous promises on seven separate occasions. The Port Harcourt Refinery, one of three government-owned refineries in Nigeria, has been out of operation for years, leaving Nigerians eager for its revival to reduce fuel costs by cutting reliance on imported refined products.
Originally established in 1965 in the Niger Delta region, the refinery became non-functional due to neglect and poor maintenance. In 2021, the government secured a $1.5 billion loan for its rehabilitation, but progress has been fraught with delays. Efforts by human rights lawyer Femi Falana to obtain clarity on the project timeline under the Freedom of Information Act were rebuffed by the contractor, Maire Tecnimont SpA, which argued that it was a private entity not bound by the Act.
The NNPCL has repeatedly set and missed deadlines for the refinery’s completion. In December 2023, the company claimed the facility had achieved mechanical readiness and would soon begin refining operations. By July 2024, NNPCL’s Group CEO Mele Kyari asserted that the refinery would start production by August. However, no progress was made, and the refinery remains idle.
Earlier in 2024, the NNPCL assured Nigerians that crude oil had already been delivered to the refinery in preparation for its commencement. Deadlines of April and July came and went without fulfillment. Appearing before a Senate Ad-hoc Committee in March, Kyari reiterated that operations would begin within two weeks.
As the year draws to a close, NNPCL has promised to complete the project but has yet to regain the public’s confidence. Nigerians, who have endured high fuel costs and dependency on imported products, remain hopeful that the refinery’s eventual completion will bring relief and restore trust in the government’s ability to deliver on such critical national projects.
