The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has begun supplying crude oil for Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited’s trial run, according to NNPCL officials on Sunday.
Oil marketers confirmed the news, stating that the plant would supply refined Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel, and other products to 12 states, including Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta.
The NNPCL stated that the plant’s ongoing testing would be completed soon and that commercial production of refined products would also begin soon.
This came as experts and downstream operators stated that though the cost of refined products would reduce once the Port Harcourt and Dangote refineries start pumping out products, it would not lead to a massive price crash.
Recall that on December 21, 2023, the Federal Government announced the mechanical completion of rehabilitation work on the Area-5 Plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, stated that the first phase of the PHRC was completed on December 20, 2023, and that the facility would begin refining 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily following the Christmas holiday.
“This is to announce to Nigerians that, in fulfilment of our pledge to complete phase one of the Port Harcourt refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase two in 2024, we happily announce the mechanical completion of flare start-up on December 20, 2023.
“This heralds the commencement of the production of petroleum products after the Christmas break. We want to thank Nigerians for their patience and trust in the NNPC to deliver on our promise and mandate in the rehabilitation of our refineries,” the minister stated.
When contacted on Sunday to state whether the plant had started producing refined products as projected by the minister, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, said crude oil was being supplied to the facility.
He said the refinery was being test-run, as this was in line with international best practice, and assured Nigerians that the plant would commence commercial production of refined products shortly