*To complement Dangote Refinery *The role of DSS DG
By Our Reporter
After five years of inactivity, the Port Harcourt refinery owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) yesterday resumed operations with trucks ferrying several refined products to marketers, in what industry experts described as a major boost to the Bola Tinubu administration.
“On Tuesday, trucks began loading petroleum products which included Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel and Household Kerosene (HHK) or Kerosene, while other product slates will be dispatched as well,” a statement by Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, said.
“Speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the commencement of products loading at the Refinery on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Group CEO, Mr. Mele Kyari described the commencement of the loadout activities as a monumental achievement for Nigeria which signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for the country.
“The GCEO particularly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support and understanding towards the rehabilitation project and for his persistence to ensure energy security for the country,
“Kyari also expressed deep appreciation to the NNPC Ltd. Board of Directors and the entire staff for their support and commitment, which crystallized into the streaming of the refinery. He also commended the contractors for doing a great job in ensuring that the refinery is delivered despite all challenges,”
In March 2021, the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari awarded a $1.5 billion contract for rehabilitation works on the refinery. The old plant, commissioned in 1965, can process 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, while the new plant commissioned in 1989, has a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day.
The then Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, said the rehabilitation would be done by Tecnimont SPA of Italy, in three phases of 18, 24 and 44 months.
The Authority gathered that several factors, including sabotage and security challenges had greatly affected efforts by Tecnimont SPA to complete the rehabilitation works on time.
It was further gathered that the security situation around the refinery began improving in late August after President Tinubu appointed Mr. Tosin Ajayi as Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
“Recall that Mr. Ajayi served as State Director of Security for Rivers State for over five years. He, beyond doubt, understands the peculiar security situation in the state.
“It, therefore, wasn’t too difficult for him to understand and address the security challenges faced by the foreign contractors,” offered one security guard at the refinery.
By resuming operations after five years, the refinery is expected to further reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products and reduce foreign exchange pressures associated with fuel importation.
The refinery is also expected complement the Dangote Petroleum Refinery which began operations a few months ago.
