The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, has confirmed ongoing work at the 150,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State. PHRC operates two facilities: the 150,000bpd plant and a 60,000bpd plant, the latter of which is currently running at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up production soon.
Onanuga made this disclosure following a fact-finding visit to the 60,000bpd refinery on Wednesday. Sharing the findings on Thursday in a post titled “Putting to Rest Rumours about Port Harcourt Refinery Complex: Our Fact-Finding Mission”, he refuted claims that the refinery lacks crude supply and highlighted its progress.
“Our team, guided by PHRC Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, inspected the entire complex, from the computerized control room to the loading bay. We asked critical questions and received satisfactory answers, dispelling doubts and misconceptions,” Onanuga stated.
He emphasized that the refinery is receiving regular crude oil supplies and commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for reviving the facility, which he described as a “dead asset on the verge of becoming a museum piece.”
PHRC Revitalization Efforts
In November, NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye announced that the Port Harcourt refinery had resumed operations at 60% capacity, processing 60,000 barrels of crude per day. The facility, with a combined capacity of 210,000bpd, produces petroleum products such as kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel, and petrol, the latter being blended to meet Nigerian standards.
Onanuga noted the significant upgrades made to modernize the refinery, including the replacement of parts that had not been changed in 27 years and the installation of 300 kilometers of new pipelines. “The overhaul has transformed it into a state-of-the-art facility, bringing it up to 21st-century standards,” he said.
Work Underway at Second PHRC Plant
The fact-finding team also visited the adjacent 150,000bpd plant, commissioned in 1989, where workers are currently replacing outdated components. While no timeline for completion was provided, Onanuga expressed confidence that it would soon become operational.
“This mission has buried the various doubts and lies about the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex,” Onanuga concluded, praising NNPCL and the refinery team for their efforts to restore the facility to full functionality.
