Port Harcourt Refinery Set to Begin Fuel Sales by Month’s End, Marketers Hopeful

Members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have expressed hope that the Port Harcourt Refinery will commence fuel sales by the end of April.

This follows a visit by the petroleum marketers to the facility on April 17, 2024, where they were informed by the refinery staff that mechanical work had been completed.

The refinery’s readiness to start dispensing fuel aligns with the earlier assurance given by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari. Kyari had previously stated that the Port Harcourt Refinery would resume operations in April, with mechanical works completed and over 450,000 barrels of crude received from active lines.

He also revealed that repair works at the Kaduna and Warri refineries are nearing completion, with the Kaduna refinery expected to start operations in December.

The potential commencement of fuel sales from the Port Harcourt Refinery has brought optimism among IPMAN members, who have been eagerly waiting for the facility to become operational.

The refinery’s ability to process crude oil and provide fuel to the market would help alleviate the challenges faced by petroleum marketers and consumers in Nigeria, where fuel shortages have been a recurring issue.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been working diligently to complete the repair works at the refineries, with the aim of improving the country’s refining capacity and reducing its dependence on imported petroleum products.

The successful completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery’s mechanical works and the imminent start of fuel sales represent significant milestones in this effort.

As the Port Harcourt Refinery prepares to begin fuel sales by the end of the month, stakeholders are hopeful that this development will mark the beginning of a new era in Nigeria’s energy sector, characterized by increased self-sufficiency and a more reliable supply of petroleum products to the market.