The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is back in operation.
Onanuga, in a post shared via his X account early on Thursday, said he and some others visited the refine on Wednesday to get first-hand information on its operations following reports that the facility is not back in production as its management announced to Nigerians.
Henzodaily recalls the refinery resumed crude oil processing on November 26 after several years of being moribund.
However, some Nigerians who were doubtful about the refinery’s operation questioned the reported revitalization based on the concerns raised by some stakeholders.
However, the presidential media aide said after the visit, he can fully confirm that the Port Harcourt Refinery is up and running, urging Nigerians to ignore the false information making rounds about the facility.
Onanuga confirmed that he and others in the delegation were given a guided tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery by Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, and they were satisfied with what they saw.
According to him, though the refinery is not working at 100% capacity, it is functioning at 70% installed capacity, with plans to ramp up production soon.
“I was part of a fact-finding team that visited the 60,000 barrels daily Port Harcourt Refining Complex on Wednesday. I will now share our findings. Our mission was to verify the rumours circulating about the refinery’s state, and I am pleased to report that we were satisfied with what we saw.
“Our team, guided by the refinery’s Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, toured the entire complex, from the computerised control room to the loading bay and every section in between. We asked pointed questions and received satisfactory answers, dispelling our doubts and misconceptions.
“Nigerians must ignore naysayers and false information about the refinery’s operations. While it is not currently running at 100%, it is functioning at 70% installed capacity, with plans to increase production shortly. Furthermore, the refinery receives regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude to refine.
“During our visit, we confirmed that the refinery produces petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, LPG, diesel, and gasoline. The latter is blended with other products to make the petrol we use in our cars. We even tested samples of the products,” he said.
The presidential media aide added that old machinery and equipment at the refinery have been replaced with new ones which match up to current international standards.
He again assured that the refinery is back to life and Nigerians must ignore naysayers spreading lies and doubts about its operations.
“The refinery’s recent overhaul has transformed it into a modern facility. We saw upgraded and replaced parts, including part of the 300km new pipelines. Some parts the company had not changed in 27 years have been replaced with new ones, bringing the refinery up to 21st-century standards.
“The revamping work has indeed brought the refinery back to life. What was once a 20th-century refinery has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility.
We also visited the co-located second Port Harcourt refinery, commissioned in 1989. Workers were busy dismantling old, rusty parts and replacing them with new ones. Although officials declined to provide a timeline for its completion, there was an air of confidence that it would soon be operational, joining its 60,000 barrels a day counterpart.
“My curiosity has been satisfied. I commend NNPC Limited and the refinery team for reviving this dead asset, which was on the verge of becoming a museum piece.
“Our fact-finding mission has buried the various doubts and lies about the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex,” he concluded.