Port Harcourt refinery can make N1.3t profit yearly – MD

The Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company, Dr. Bafred Enjugu, says the refinery can meet its target of making a profit of N1.3 trillion yearly.
Enjugu, who made the remark during a media workshop organised by the company in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday, said the factors militating against achieving such a feat at present were equipment and security.
He said in spite of the challenges, the doggedness of the staff of the refinery had contributed to the achievements of the company so far.
Enjugu said the refinery made N12.6 billion operating margin in spite of “very low supply” of crude in 2014.
He attributed the feat to the crash in the price of crude oil at the time, adding that a total volume of 188.9 billion barrels of petroleum product was produced.
The figure, he said, was arrived at after netting out the cost of crude, processing, processing chemicals, energy as well as staff salaries and benefits.
Enjugu said that the company ran aground in 2015 due to the absence of crude supply until July 15 when it received approval to process, but was cut off by equipment problem.
He said that the company incurred a loss of N2.25 billion due to the challenges, adding that about N13 billion was made in 2016.
He said: “Now at the end of 2016, which was a better year for us, we made something in the region of about N12 to N13 billion.
“We are yet to complete those figures.
“We made N2.95 billion in December, only after netting out the overhead cost.”
Enguju, however, said the company would meet up with the projected N1.3 trillion profit for the nation once it started operating at 100 per cent capacity.
He said: “We have to take up the challenge to keep the skills.
“We will make sure we deliver on that.
“We have to get all of the N1.3 trillion and beyond.
“We are looking at N1.5 trillion, but we have to upgrade facilities at the PHRC.”
Enjugu commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Eni SPA, an Italian company, for the upgrade of the refinery’s equipment.
He said that he had confidence that Eni would assist the refinery to achieve 100 per cent of its target and surpass other competitors.
According him, the modular refineries and Dangote’s refinery posed a serious challenge to the nation’s refineries.
He, however, said the nation has high capacity to meet the consumers’ demand.
Enjugu also said the refinery had entered into partnership with some governments for the production of fuel from agricultural products.
He further said that the company had concluded plans to commence the production of aviation kerosene.