For the sixth time, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has shelved the date for the much-awaited launch of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The delay raises concerns about Nigeriaâs energy infrastructure and the reliability of refining capabilities.
The refinery was initially slated to commence production in 2021 but has faced several delays, which have been attributed to various technical, financial and logistical issues.
The latest delay adds to the anger among industry watchers and the Nigerian people who expect to see the refinery function and reduce the countryâs dependence on imported petroleum products.
According to reports, the NNPC has yet to give any specific launch date for the refinery, but reports say the ongoing repairs and upgrades are taking longer to complete.
In July, the NNPCâs group CEO, Mele Kyari, assured Nigerians that the facility would be operational by early August.
The NNPC boss had said in 2019 that the company would complete all four refineries before the conclusion of ex-President Muhammadu Buhariâs tenure.
Kyari claimed at a July Senate hearing that Nigeria will become a net exporter of petroleum products by the end of 2024.
BusinessDay reports that NNPCâs spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed that the company is on course to get the refinery working on schedule.
Experts are worried that the refinery has yet to commence operations as August nears an end.
During the Christmas break last year, the NNPC disclosed that the plant would begin refining 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
Kyari assured Nigerians in January this year that the facility was undergoing testing and would be fully operational by the end of the month, according to Punch.
The facility is expected to have a refining capacity of 210,000 barrels daily, boosting domestic fuel production and contributing to Nigeriaâs economic growth.
A previous report by TimesNow.com.ng earlier disclosed that about eight refineries in Nigeria were expected to commence operations in Nigeria in August 2024.
Data from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows that about eight Nigerian refineries are expected to commence operations in August 2024.
The refineriesâ combined capacity is estimated at 864,500 barrels per day, significantly demanding the NUPRC for crude oil.
Some refineries, including the Port Harcourt refinery, Waltersmith Refinery, the Dangote Refinery, and others, demand about 597,700 barrels of crude oil from the oil regulator.
The refiners increased their domestic crude requirements for the second half of the year to 597,700 barrels per day from 483,000 barrels in the first half of 2024 amid tight supply.
Reuters reports that the NUPRC said on Friday, August 9, 2204, that it could only secure 177,777 barrels from oil producers in the first six months of the year, far below the refineries’ requirements.
