December deadline: Portharcourt, Warri refineries under pressure

As the December deadline to resume full petrol production draws near, the managing director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) Engr Ibrahim Onoja and the acting managing director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Mrs Usua Ofonmbuk Edet are currently under pressure to deliver.

The federal government had said the December deadline for Port Harcourt and Warri refineries to resume operations remained unchanged.

Newspot recalls that the federal government had hinted that the two plants would kick-start operations in December by locally refining 160 barrels of crude oil daily.

According to the projection, the Warri refinery would produce 100 barrels per day by December; the Port Harcourt refinery would make an initial contribution of 60 bpd during the same period.

The minister of state for petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Loikpobiri, disclosed this recently when he paid a visit to Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC)

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Lokpobiri was accompanied by the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, other top management officials and managing directors of the strategic business units of the oil conglomerate.

According to the construction manager, Femi Fagbuaro, who spoke for the MD of WRPC, the plant would start with 100 bpd, which represents about 60 per cent of its installed capacity in December, and progress to hit optimal production capacity afterwards.

On his part, the MD of PHRC, Engr Onoja, said the plant would commence operations with 60bpd by December and ultimately hit over 200bpd in December 2024.

Lokpobiri said:” That is why I have come, so that nobody will say I am in Abuja and making statements there; it is deliberate as I have called the MDs of the different refineries, who are there to give us daily reports about the progress made.

“You heard me when I said I will hold them accountable for the dates they have given to Nigerians.

“For now, I want Nigerians to be optimistic that if this rehabilitation is completed, we will put them to the best use for the benefit of Nigerians.

“The government owns NNPCL and the refinery, which is essential to the government.

“I want to see how this place can be fully rehabilitated so we can stop or reduce the quantity of products imported into the country.”