Finally, NNPC begins rehabilitation of 210,000 bpd Port-Harcourt refinery

Motolani Oseni

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Thursday formally commenced the first phase of the rehabilitation of the 210,000 barrels per day capacity Port-Harcourt Refinery complex that comprises the 60,000 barrels per day.

With this development, the Nigeria’s effort at ensuring local sufficiency in refined petroleum products was bolstered.

Speaking at the formal kick–off meeting in the premises of the refinery in Port-Harcourt, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the project would be executed by Milan-based Maire Tecnimont S.p.A, in collaboration with its Nigerian affiliate, Tecnimont Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu,

stated that Maire Tecnimont S.p.A is listed on Milan Stock Exchange with interest in international engineering and construction, technology and licensing, and energy business development,

adding that the Tecnimont group had operations in 40 different countries, numbering about 50 operative companies with a workforce of about 5,500 employees.

The NNPC’s spokesman quoted the GMD as saying that at the end of phase 1, the Refinery complex should be able to reach 60 per cent capacity utilisation.

Ughamadu stated that NNPC was engaging eni/NAOC as Technical Advisor to support the Rehabilitation of PHRC, saying NNPC/PHRC would leverage eni’s extensive refinery supply chain network and warehouses to procure critical materials for the programme.

He noted the first phase of the rehabilitation contract which would run for six months will involve detailed integrity check and equipment inspection of the Port-Harcourt Refinery complex beginning from the end of March 2019.

Subject to the successful completion of the integrity checks, Phase 2 of the project would be executed on an Engineering Procurement Construction basis by Tecnimont in collaboration with the original builders of the plant, JGC of Japan.

Speaking on behalf of the workers’ unions, Comrade Odor Victor Ayiri, Branch Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and Comrade Dibiah Joseph, Chairman of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),

jointly pledged the support of workers to ensuring a smooth turnaround of the facility.

It will be recalled that the NNPC had to abandon its earlier funding strategy by its DSDP Term Contractors/Consortia due to onerous conditions demanded after more than twelve (12) months of negotiations.