With the deadline for the Turn Around Maintenance, (TAM) billed for December 2023 now elapsed, Mr. Olufemi Oladapo Soneye says the Port Harcourt Refinery cannot swing into full operations because it is still on test run.
Mr. Soneye who is the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd said the test run will ensure that the refinery is operationally ready before commencement of full commercial operations can be triggered.
“We have said that the Port Harcourt Refinery has been completed. Test running is ongoing. It is targeted at ensuring that everything, including the lines, is in perfect condition. It is when everything is confirmed to be fine that supply of crude for refining can start.”
“Rehabilitation work has been ongoing at the Refinery for over two years and the NNPC Ltd. had pledged to complete Phase One of the project (mechanical completion and flare start-up) of Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5) by 31st December 2023.”
On his part, the Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure had said: “We are just starting. We want to be at the highest level of production so that we will keep the prices of petroleum prices in the country stable to give comfort to our people and generate more revenue for our country.”
