P’Harcourt refinery begins test-run, Rivers, 11 others get supply soon… 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has commenced the supply of crude oil for the test-running of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, the NNPCL officials said on Sunday.

Oil marketers confirmed the development and stated that the plant would supply refined Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel, as well as other products to 12 states including Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta, among others.

The NNPCL stated that the ongoing test-running of the plant would be completed shortly, adding that commercial production of refined products would also begin shortly.

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.

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.

It said the first phase of the plant had been completed, as the facility would start refining 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily after the Christmas break.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, had stated that the first phase of the PHRC was completed on December 20, 2023, adding that refined products’ production would commence after the Yuletide.

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 production shortly