The $1.5bn rehabilitation project, funded through a loan facility backed by international financial institutions, was projected to restore the state-owned facility to full operational status after years of dormancy and seven postponements.
The PUNCH recalls several deadlines for the commencement of fuel production at the Port Harcourt refinery, with the latest failure occurring in September 2024, from its earlier target of December 2023.
During the unveiling, NNPC officials embarked on a tour around the facility where they took samples of petrol, diesel, and kerosene. It was stated that about 200 trucks of petrol would be released into the Nigerian market daily.
Similarly, President Tinubu, in celebrating the restart, stated that it would contribute to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting Nigeria’s export capacity.
“In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria,” a statement by the presidency noted.
Recently, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria commended the NNPCL for successfully running the revamped Port Harcourt Refinery for 180 days non-stop. The association, in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele, said the refinery had been dormant for over 20 years.
He said its members were loading diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene from the refinery, while NNPC Ltd. retail marketers were loading PMS.
Obele said, “It was commissioned in October 2024 and has been running continuously for 180 days, up to March 2025; it is a remarkable feat that underscores the effectiveness of the rehabilitation project.”
But the new document highlighting the refinery’s true state said the facility didn’t exceed 42.23 percent of its operational capacity within the six-month period. It disclosed that the facility produced more diesel than PMS blending components of Straight-Run Gasoline and Straight-Run Naphtha.
The total production figure was derived from the cumulative output of various refined petroleum products, including the blending components for PMS, AGO, and HKK products. According to oil and gas experts, one barrel of crude, when heated and refined, can produce 159 litres of refined products.
A detailed breakdown revealed that in November, the refinery produced 9.51 million litres, significantly below its operational capacity of 38.16 million litres. This represents a meagre 24.92 percent utilisation, with a shortfall of 28.65 million litres.
In December, the refinery saw a remarkable increase in production, rising by 1,044 per cent to 108 million litres. However, this output still fell short of the expected monthly production of 286.20 million litres, utilising just 38.01 percent of its capacity and leaving a substantial shortfall of 177.41 million litres.
In January, the refinery produced 120.91 million litres of refined products, representing just 42.2 percent of its full 286.20 million-litre capacity, according to production data.
This was followed by a slight decline in February, where 111.81 million litres were produced, equating to 39.1 percent of the refinery’s total capacity. In March, production further decreased to 100.03 million litres, which accounted for 35 percent of the expected output for the month.”
“ThisDay” newspaper front page June 16, 2025, headline: “DANGOTE FULFILLS PLEDGE TO ‘SHAKEDOWN’ DOWNSTREAM SECTOR, SET TO BEGIN FUEL DISTRIBUTION NATIONWIDE”
*Deploys 4,000 CNG tankers to enhance operation
*Says offer open to marketers, petrol dealers, others
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos
”Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote yesterday fulfilled a promise to significantly ‘shakedown’ the downstream petroleum sector, with the company announcing that the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery will commence direct distribution of fuel nationwide from August.
Chairman of the Dangote Group had last week pledged to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians that there will be a major overhaul of the downstream sector, following the visit of the Nigerian leader to the $20 billion facility located in Lagos.
“Now that the President has visited and he has given us additional energy, we will inform you, you will hear from us soon, and that will be one of the major shakedowns in the entire country. It is not the reduction of price, it will be the total overhaul of the downstream,” he stated.
In a statement, the company stated that effective August 15, 2025, it would begin the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) commonly known as petrol, and diesel to marketers, petrol dealers, manufacturers, telecoms firms, aviation, and other large users across the country. The company said the arrangement comes with free logistics to boost the distribution network.
To ensure smooth take-off of the scheme, Dangote Refinery said it had invested in the procurement of 4,000 brand-new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered tankers. It said that this phase of the programme would continue over an extended timeframe.
According to the statement, the refinery is also investing in CNG stations, commonly referred to as daughter booster stations, supported by a fleet of over 100 CNG tankers across the country to ensure seamless product distribution.
