After years of stalled progress and missed deadlines, Nigeria’s Port Harcourt Refinery has resumed crude oil processing, operating at 60% of its capacity, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson for the NNPCL, confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that the facility is currently refining 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
The refinery, which boasts a total capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. Its partial resumption marks a significant step forward after multiple failed attempts to restart operations in recent years.
Soneye highlighted the renewed activity as a positive milestone for the nation’s oil and gas sector, though questions remain about the timeline for achieving full operational capacity.
The Port Harcourt Refinery’s revival is expected to alleviate some pressure on Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, which has struggled with supply chain challenges and rising fuel costs.
