The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State has officially begun processing crude oil, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s push for energy independence. This development was announced by Femi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“Today marks a monumental achievement for Nigeria as the Port Harcourt Refinery officially commences crude oil processing. This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation,” Soneye stated.
Truck loading operations at the refinery also commenced on the same day, with plans to restart the Warri Refinery soon.
This milestone follows years of missed deadlines and extensive rehabilitation efforts. The $1.5 billion refurbishment project was approved in 2021 to restore the refinery, which had been shut down since 2019. Despite being one of the world’s top crude oil producers, Nigeria has long relied on fuel imports due to inadequate refining capacity, leading to significant economic challenges.
With the Port Harcourt Refinery operational and the Dangote Refinery already producing diesel, aviation fuel, and petrol, Nigeria aims to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal, which drastically increased fuel prices. NNPCL’s Group CEO, Mele Kyari, expressed hope that these initiatives would make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products by 2024.
This achievement symbolizes a step forward in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports and strengthening its energy sector.
