Lokpobiri states that the Port Harcourt refinery will be operational by December 2023.

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Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), has announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery (PHRC) is scheduled to be operational by December 2023.

This information was conveyed in a statement issued by Garba Deen Muhammad, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on a late Friday. During an inspection tour of the PHRC Ltd. plant, the new Minister emphasized the Federal Government’s dedication to ending petroleum product imports and restoring the country’s local refining capability.

“Given the substantial progress achieved in the PHRC rehabilitation project, the plant will resume operations by December this year,” Lokpobiri stated.

Lokpobiri further elaborated on the stakeholders’ intention in visiting the plant, highlighting their collective goal of ceasing fuel imports in Nigeria over the next few years.

“Based on our observations today, the Port Harcourt Refinery will be operational by year-end, the Warri Refinery will be operational by the end of the first quarter of next year, and the Kaduna Refinery will also come online towards the close of next year. When you factor in the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to put an end to fuel imports, allowing Nigerians to fully benefit from deregulation,” the Minister explained.

Lokpobiri expressed his contentment with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt refinery, highlighting the positive impact that the refurbishment of all refineries will have on Nigeria’s petroleum product supply and the domestication of foreign exchange, ultimately contributing to an enhanced economy.

Meanwhile, Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., emphasized the national aspiration to restore the refineries to optimal levels, and the Company’s unwavering focus on achieving that goal. He emphasized their determination to address the challenges in the nation’s fuel supply and expressed hope that by 2024, Nigeria would transform into a net exporter of petroleum products.

Additionally, Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), emphasized the urgency of ensuring operational refineries, stressing the vital role that petrol plays in the economy and the need for collective effort to keep the refineries functioning effectively.

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