The Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, said the Port Harcourt refinery would begin production by end of March.
Kyari said this after a meeting with the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the various Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) projects of Nigerian refineries.
“In the next two weeks, production will start, we did mechanical completion of Port Harcourt, that was what we said in Dec 2023.
“That means we are done with our rehabilitation work, now you are to test if this completion is okay,” he said.
On Warri refinery, Kyari said mechanical works had been completed, adding that the facility was undergoing the regulatory compliance processes.
He, however, said Kaduna would not be ready until December.
Kyari said that all the crude lines were active, adding that over 450,000 barrels had been delivered into Port Harcourt refinery.
“Yes, there may be security issues, but also government is responding to the situation.
“We are happy to work with the committee and promise not to hide anything from them,” Kyari said.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Sen. Ifeanyi Uba (APC -Anambra), said the committee was satisfied with the information from NNPCL.
Ubah said the committee had an understanding of when to go for oversight function of the refineries.
“I believe everything is positively on track.
“We want the refineries to work, and we have gotten firm promise from NNPCL on when they will begin operation.
“The next step is to visit the refineries and assess the progress,” he said.
The Senate has dismissed media reports claiming that it will expose all “frauds associated with the contracts and management of the Turn Around Maintenance of the nation’s refineries”.
A news report last week claimed that the Senate through its Ad-hoc Committee on Investigation of Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) in the nation’s refineries has vowed to “expose all frauds associated with the contracts and management of the process.”
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who expressed displeasure over the “unfortunate reports” at an interactive session on Thursday, said the National Assembly couldn’t have declared verdict on an issue that is still under investigation.
“I apologise for the reports. I was quoted out of context,” Senator Uba said at the interactive session.
The Senator further noted that the Committee’s concern was aimed at getting the nation’s refineries fully rehabilitated and returned to their respective optimal refining capacities so as to ensure nationwide petroleum products sufficiency and safeguard Nigeria’s energy security.
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee is expected to visit the three refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt soon for an on-the-spot assessment of work progress.
The committee will meet with Kyari on March 19, on issues relating to crude oil theft.
