The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has missed yet another deadline to commence fuel production at the Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers State, marking the seventh time operations have been postponed. Promises from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC regarding the refinery’s operational start have repeatedly fallen short.
The NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, previously indicated that the refinery would begin operations in September 2024, following a delay announced in early August. However, as of the end of September, the NNPC has not provided any updates on the status of the refinery.
Attempts to obtain information from the NNPC regarding the refinery’s progress were met with silence. Meanwhile, Maire Tecnimont SpA, the contractor responsible for the refinery’s rehabilitation, stated that they would provide a project completion update by October 2, 2024.
Since December 2023, NNPC has issued various assurances to the public, promising that the refinery would soon begin refining and selling petroleum products. However, those promises have yet to materialize.
With the refinery designed to process 210,000 barrels of crude oil daily, expectations had risen after NNPC claimed it had achieved mechanical completion of rehabilitation work. Yet, operational start dates have been continuously pushed back, contributing to widespread frustration among Nigerians who have long awaited the revival of the nation’s refining capacity.
The continued delays have forced Nigeria to rely heavily on imported fuel, incurring significant financial costs, while criticisms mount regarding the government’s handling of the refinery’s rehabilitation. As the country looks forward to the refinery’s operations, there is hope for an end to fuel imports and a reduction in petrol prices.
