The Warri and Port Harcourt refineries have commenced preliminary production of petroleum products, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has disclosed.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, it was revealed that the Warri refinery would contribute 3.5 million litres of petrol to local refining capacity, while the Port Harcourt refinery would yield 5 million litres of petrol per day.
Alegbe said the refineries kicked off production after a nine-month phased rehabilitation by in-house engineers and technicians.
He said in the statement that, “We were impelled to switch strategy after the ORBs declined participation and nominated some partners in their stead who came up with outrageously unfavourable terms.”
“The phased rehabilitation strategy entailed phased and simultaneous rehabilitation of all refineries using in-house and locally available resources in line with the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Content Law.
“It also involved the use of Original Equipment Manufacturer representatives to effect major equipment overhaul and rehabilitation,” the statement said.
