The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has once again failed to commence operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, despite multiple promises and an increasingly skeptical public.
This marks the sixth postponement in the much-anticipated reopening of the refinery, raising significant concerns about the project’s management and future.
Originally slated for completion in 2019, the refurbishment and upgrade of the Port Harcourt Refinery, situated in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, have been plagued by political wrangling, funding challenges, and technical difficulties.
The project’s delays are particularly concerning as the refinery is viewed as a linchpin for Nigeria’s energy independence and economic stability.
In July, NNPCL had reassured the public that the refinery would begin crude oil refining in early August. This commitment was reiterated by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, during an emergency session at the National Assembly’s joint committee on finance. Kyari, who had earlier suggested March 2024 as a potential start date, insisted that the new August deadline would be met, stating that he “was not lying” about the refinery’s readiness.
However, as August reaches its midpoint, the refinery remains inactive, further diminishing public trust in the repeated promises from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC. This latest delay has fueled widespread speculation that the refinery might not resume operations this month, as anticipated.
Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), recently announced that the rehabilitation of the refinery was nearing its final phase, but the lack of concrete progress has left many Nigerians doubtful.
On Tuesday, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye told The Punch that the refinery was “on course,” despite the missed early August deadline.
Soneye, however, declined to provide further clarification on whether the refinery would begin operations before the end of the month, leaving the public in continued uncertainty.
As the NNPCL and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources grapple with the refinery’s persistent setbacks, the delay casts a long shadow over Nigeria’s efforts to revitalize its domestic refining capacity and reduce dependency on imported petroleum products.
The continued postponements not only jeopardize the project’s credibility but also threaten to undermine confidence in the nation’s broader energy strategy.