Breaking News: Port Harcourt Refinery Finally Kicks Off Operations After Years of Delays

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After years of anticipation and multiple postponements, the Port Harcourt refinery operations have officially commenced, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector. This long-awaited breakthrough was confirmed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on Tuesday, with the announcement that truck loading of refined products would begin the same day.

The refinery, located in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, has started with an initial capacity of 60,000 barrels per day. It is now producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel, and other petroleum products for the Nigerian market. According to the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, this development signals a new chapter in Nigeria’s quest to reduce dependency on imported refined fuel.

In an official statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the NNPC declared: “NNPC Ltd delivers Port Harcourt Refinery as the plant begins truck-out of products today, Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 1:45 PM. Watch the commissioning and trucking-out event LIVE.”


The Port Harcourt refinery, one of three refineries owned by the Federal Government and managed by the NNPC, has been operational since 1965. However, due to years of neglect, it became moribund, necessitating extensive rehabilitation. In March 2021, the Nigerian government secured a $1.5 billion loan to modernize the facility.

Despite numerous promises, the refinery’s revival was delayed seven times, with the most recent September 2024 deadline missed. The NNPC cited unforeseen risks and challenges commonly associated with brownfield projects. These included the complexity of commissioning critical equipment and processing units after achieving mechanical completion.

Speaking on the project’s hurdles, Soneye stated, “You may recall that the mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt refinery revamp was successfully achieved several months ago, marking a significant milestone. Following this, we began commissioning critical equipment and process units. However, unforeseen challenges arose, which have now been resolved.”

The Port Harcourt refinery operations are expected to ease the financial burden on Nigerians by reducing the cost of petroleum products. This step aligns with the Federal Government’s vision of refining crude oil locally to curtail the importation of refined products. Nigerians remain hopeful that this achievement will stabilize fuel prices and support the nation’s economic recovery.

This refinery joins the Dangote Refinery, which commenced operations in September 2024, in bolstering the country’s refining capacity. Together, these facilities aim to reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape and create a sustainable pathway for economic growth.



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