By Milcah Tanimu

Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has announced that the Port Harcourt refinery is poised to recommence operations within the next two weeks. Speaking after appearing before a Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating Turn Around Maintenance projects for the country’s refineries, Kyari highlighted the completion of mechanical works on the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

Kyari assured that the mechanical works for the Port Harcourt refinery were finalized as planned in December, with crude oil already stocked in preparation for operations. He emphasized the importance of conducting regulatory compliance tests before resuming operations, indicating that the refinery is on track for resumption.

Moreover, Kyari disclosed that over 450,000 barrels of oil have been delivered to the Port Harcourt refinery, demonstrating progress in the rehabilitation efforts. Despite acknowledging security challenges, Kyari expressed confidence in the refinery’s integrity, underscoring the government’s responsiveness to security concerns in the region.

In related developments, the Senate disassociated itself from reports alleging fraud in the Turn Around Maintenance of the nation’s refineries undertaken by the NNPC. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman of the Senate ad-hoc panel, reassured colleagues that no fraudulent practices had been detected in the ongoing maintenance exercise. He pledged to provide comprehensive reports following visits to all refineries to assess progress firsthand.

Senator Mpigi Barnada, a member of the ad-hoc committee, urged NNPC management to address security challenges in the oil-rich region to ensure smooth operations once refineries are restored. He emphasized the importance of security measures to safeguard crude transportation to the refineries.