Lokpobiri also said the Warri and Kaduna refineries are expected to start functioning by the end of 2024
By Kehinde Okeowo
The newly appointed Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil ), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has assured Nigerians that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd, will commence production by December 2023.
He gave the assurance via a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Garba Deen Muhammad, where he reinstated the federal government’s commitment to bringing on board all the government owned refineries.
Lokpobiri, who was in Rivers State on an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the Port Harcourt refinery, said plans are underway to ensure the Warri and Kaduna refineries also become functional by the end of 2024.
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According to the minister, the FG in its bid to stop petroleum product importation and end scarcity, has decided to restore Nigeria’s local refining capacity.
He went on to express satisfaction with the ongoing rehabilitation work at the refinery, noting that Nigerians will enjoy a better supply of petroleum products once all the refineries and Dangote refinery start production.
Lokpobiri said: “Our objective in coming here today is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation. From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt Refinery will come on board by the end of the year.
“Warri will come on stream by the end of the first quarter of next year, and Kaduna will also come on board towards the end of next year. If you add that to the Dangote Refinery, we will be able to stop fuel importation, and Nigerians will enjoy the full benefits of deregulation,”.
