After 20 years of dormancy, Nigeria's P.H refinery marks 6 months of continuous operation

Port Harcourt refinery in Nigeria has completed 6 months of uninterrupted operation
Nigeria is making significant progress in revitalizing its refining capacity to achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum product supply
The government has invested heavily in rehabilitating key refineries including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna

The successful operation of the refinery is expected to reduce Nigeria's reliance on imported petroleum products and enhance energy security through its continuous operation.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for ensuring 180 days of continuous production at the refinery.

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Officials have lauded the refinery’s performance, highlighting its potential to mitigate fuel shortages and stabilize local supply chains.

The sustained operation of the facility represents a step forward in Nigeria’s broader efforts to revamp its refining industry and achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum product supply.

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Nigeria’s rush to revamp ailing refineries

Nigeria is making significant progress in revitalizing its refining capacity to reduce dependence on imported fuel and enhance energy security.

The government has invested heavily in rehabilitating key refineries, including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, which had been dormant for years.

These refinery overhaul plans have been in motion since the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who aimed to restore the country’s four state-owned refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (bpd).

This includes the 110,000 bpd Kaduna refinery, the 60,000 bpd Old Port Harcourt refinery, the 150,000 bpd New Port Harcourt refinery, and the Warri refinery.

Progress is already visible, with the Port Harcourt refinery resuming operations and the Warri refinery following suit on December 30, 2024.

These government-led efforts are expected to complement private refineries, such as the Dangote refinery, in boosting Nigeria’s domestic crude oil production.

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However, the success of this initiative depends on Nigeria’s ability to meet crude oil supply targets, which remains a challenge due to pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and underinvestment in upstream operations.

Despite these obstacles, the refinery rehabilitation program remains a national priority, especially amid rising fuel costs and increasing pressure to achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum product supply.