The state-owned oil giant clarified that preparations for loading operations on Saturday were underway.
Browsing: Port Harcourt refinery
If there was any significant take-away from the facility tour of the Port Harcourt refinery complex by the leadership of the country’s major labour unions, it is the crushing, like a pack of cards, the rumours that the refinery was not operating after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited reopened it.
The resumption of full operations of the refinery was announced by its Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja, to newsmen on Sunday night.
National President of the Association, Tony Ogbuigwe, who said this in an interview, said chemical engineers on ground confirmed this.
The national oil agency reacted to the claims in a statement issued on Friday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
He also alleged that the refinery only loaded six trucks on Tuesday despite stating that 200 trucks would be picked up from the refinery daily.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP acknowledged the efforts of NNPCL in delivering on the critical project. “The rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery will be a legacy achievement for the Mele Kyari-led management team.”
Consequently, the upper chamber lamented that it was unfair and wrong to treat government businesses or public companies as an orphan while private businesses were flourishing and thriving.
Kyari made this known on Thursday in an interview with newsmen after appearing before the Senate ad-hoc committee.
Rehabilitation work has been ongoing at the refinery for over two years, with NNPCL giving a December date for return.
The fire was caused by a spark while a 33,000-litre truck was discharging naphtha into a tank at the refinery.
A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Refineries and Petrochemicals, Engr. Mustapha Yakubu, as saying that everything was being done to ensure that the project is delivered hitch-free and on schedule.
IPMAN President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos that having functional refineries was in the best interest of the nation.
The signing was done by the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refinery, Ahmed Dikko, and the Vice President of Tecnimont, Sub-Saharan Africa, Davide Pellizola, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
Like what to do about failing refineries. This hot-button topic returned to the front burner after the Nigerian government recently announced plans to repair the Port Harcourt Refinery.
It also demanded immediate review of the cost, and urged the Presidency not to release any funds for the rehabilitation until after the review.
As expected, the “mind-boggling” contract awarded for the rehabilitation was greeted with mixed reactions. In some quarters, the debate was on how the Federal Government intends to raise the large sum of money to finance the project, especially at this critical period of the nation’s economy.
Abracadabra is the best word to describe what is going on in Port Harcourt Refinery. The Refinery is situated at Alesa Eleme, which is 19km from Port Harcourt city. I have visited the refinery thrice. Twice I accompanied my two bosses, Alhaji Gidado Idris and Chief Ufot Ekaette, both late Secretaries to the Government of the Federation. My last visit to the refinery was three years ago with a friend, who once worked in the refinery.
The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mele Kyari, said this in Abuja on Monday, while reacting to controversies surrounding the budget to make the refinery function.
Mele Kyari, NNPC Group Managing Director, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while engaging newsmen on issues emanating from the proposed rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery approved by the Federal Government last week.