Port Harcourt – The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva says Port Harcourt refinery will resume production next year.
Sylva disclosed this to journalists shortly after undertaken a facility tour of the refinery at Eleme, Rivers State, on April 12.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in 2021 commenced the rehabilitation of the refinery.
The Federal Executive Council had approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation project.
The minister said the refinery when ready will have the capacity to refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpsd).
“This project kicked off second quarter last year, and where they are now is quite impressive. It is on schedule.
“The commitment is to deliver 60,000 barrels per day from this refinery by the first quarter of next year, and, of course, we are quite happy,” he said.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government is ready to end all forms of illegal oil bunkering going on in the Niger Delta.
Sylva said the modular refinery programme of the Federal Government was also on course, urging people to take advantage of the programme.
He, however, said modular refinery should be separated from the illegal oil refining taking place in the Niger Delta, causing the soot pandemic in Port Harcourt and its environs.
The Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari last year inaugurated a modular refinery in Imo State. (vitalnews)
