By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has explained why it failed to deliver the much-awaited rehabilitated Port-Harcourt refinery company, attributing the failure to the challenges encountered while carrying out the rehabilitation.
The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this in an interview with Punch Newspaper on Monday.
Soneye ascribed the challenges encountered during the project to its peculiarity describing it as a “brownfield project”.
He noted that the NNPC began the commissioning of critical equipment and processing units after the mechanical completion of the refinery.
“You may recall that mechanical completion of the PHRC revamp was successfully achieved several months ago, marking a significant milestone in the project. Following this, we began the commissioning of critical equipment and process units.
“However, as is common with brownfield projects of this scale and complexity, we encountered unforeseen risks and challenges,” he stated.
He, however, stressed that the issues were resolved and commissioning activities have resumed.
Soneye added that work is being carried out to ensure the project’s completion.
“These issues have since been effectively resolved, and commissioning activities have resumed.
“Work is being carried out around the clock to ensure the successful completion of this critical project,” he added.
Asked if there is any timeline for the completion of the project, he replied, “Shortly.”
Recall that the NNPCL had promised to deliver the refinery two months ago but failed to meet the September completion deadline.
Prior to the September deadline flop, the company had failed to meet its deadlines seven times.
The moribund Port Harcourt refinery is one of the three owned by the Federal Government and managed by the NNPCL.
Nigerians have been hopeful that the cost of fuel could crash if the country refines its crude and ends the import of refined products.
The NNPC said last week that it would continue to import fuel, saying it was not the sole off-taker of petrol at the Dangote refinery.
The refinery, situated in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, has been in operation since 1965, but later became moribund for several years.
