Fuel importation to end as PH, Warri Refineries comes back in operation by December – Lokpobiri
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has assured that the Port Harcourt refinery will come back on stream by December this year.
He restated Federal Government’s commitment to ending petroleum product importation soon, saying that efforts are being redoubled to restore the nation’s local refining capacity.
Lokpobiri stated this during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant, in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The minister was in the company of his counterpart, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Gabriel T. Aduda, and the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari.
According to Mr Lokpobiri, considering the level of progress recorded in the PHRC rehabilitation project, the plant will come back on stream by December, 2023.
“Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year, Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,” the minister noted.
He , expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt refinery, stressing that once all the refineries are back on stream, Nigerians will enjoy a better supply of petroleum products, and foreign exchange will be domesticated, leading to an improved economy.
The Group CEO, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, had earlier said that bringing back the refineries to their optimal levels is a national aspiration, and that the company remains focused on delivering that.
