The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to bring back on stream the Port Harcourt Refinery by December 2023

This is part of measures being taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration  to end petroleum product importation into the country,  by restoring the nation’s local refining capacity.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the refinery.

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 of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari.

“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 assured, according to a statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, Garba Deen Muhammad.

The Minister also said he was satisfied with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt refinery, noting 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.

Earlier in his remarks,  Kyari, said bringing back the refineries to their optimal levels is a national aspiration, and the company remains focused on delivering that.

“We are aware of our nation’s challenges in terms of fuel supply. But we are not here to give excuses. We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity. We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas),  Ekpo said: “We are here to go into the field. Yesterday was the era of subsidies. Today, we don’t have subsidies. Today, people are in a desperate situation to heave a sigh of relief; and see how to live. You all know that petrol is very vital to our economy. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the refineries are working.”

During the visit, the two Ministers also participated in the Refineries’ Rehabilitation Steering Committee meeting and held a meeting with the refinery’s Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contractors.