As the December deadline for the resumption of full petrol production approaches, Engr Ibrahim Onoja, the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), and Mrs. Usua Ofonmbuk Edet, the Acting Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), find themselves facing increasing pressure to meet their targets.
The federal government has affirmed that the December deadline for the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries to restart operations remains unchanged. Earlier, the government had indicated that both facilities would commence operations in December with the aim of locally refining 160 barrels of crude oil daily.
According to the plan, the Warri refinery is anticipated to produce 100 barrels per day by December, while the Port Harcourt refinery will make an initial contribution of 60 barrels per day during the same period.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), recently disclosed this during a visit to the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC). Lokpobiri, accompanied by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, along with other senior management officials and managing directors of the oil conglomerate’s strategic business units, emphasized the importance of meeting these deadlines.
Femi Fagbuaro, the construction manager representing the MD of WRPC, stated that the plant would commence with 100 barrels per day in December, equivalent to about 60% of its installed capacity, and gradually progress toward achieving optimal production capacity.
Engr Onoja, the MD of PHRC, expressed that the Port Harcourt refinery would initiate operations with 60 barrels per day by December and ultimately exceed 200 barrels per day by December 2024.
Lokpobiri stressed his commitment to holding the refinery MDs accountable for meeting the stipulated deadlines and urged Nigerians to maintain optimism regarding the rehabilitation efforts. He emphasized the significance of rehabilitating these refineries to reduce the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products, highlighting the government’s ownership of NNPCL and the refineries.
In conclusion, the pressure is mounting on the managing directors of Port Harcourt and Warri refineries as they work towards meeting the December deadline for resuming petrol production, a critical step in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
