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Segun emphasized that it would be unjust to claim that NNPCL has failed to deliver, particularly when considering the refinery's status as a brownfield facility.
"We based our projections on the available data. The Port Harcourt refinery, classified as a brownfield refinery, achieved mechanical completion last December, and by August, we initiated the burner operation, indicating that the distillation process has commenced. While the refinery has begun distillation, it has not yet produced products that meet tank specifications," Segun stated.
He noted that the process can be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, which can hinder progress and necessitate a halt or restart of operations.
"When distillation begins, temperatures gradually increase, reaching up to 300 degrees Celsius. At this point, if any issues arise, intervention is not possible; the temperature must be lowered first. Problems may occur, such as a clogged burner, which cannot be addressed at such high temperatures. Instead, we must cool it down, perform maintenance, and then resume heating. Since August, we have encountered various challenges at the Port Harcourt refinery, requiring us to pause and resolve each issue. However, I am now very optimistic that we are in a position where everything is ready," he elaborated.
Expanding on his viewpoint, Segun compared the situation to that of the Dangote Refinery, which is a greenfield project. "The Dangote Refinery reached mechanical completion in May of last year and commenced diesel production in March of this year, approximately ten months later. In contrast, the Port Harcourt Refinery, which we have rehabilitated and is a brownfield facility rather than a new one like Dangote's, achieved mechanical completion in December. Now, in September, we are aiming to begin producing middle distillates—the same products that Dangote started producing in March and April. The question we must consider is whether we have been inefficient," the Executive Vice President posed rhetorically.
He further noted that it took Dangote Refinery around 16 months from its mechanical completion in May of last year to initiate petrol production in September of this year. Therefore, the fact that the Port Harcourt Refinery has not yet started petrol production nine months after its mechanical completion should not be viewed as a failure.
"This is still a nine-month timeframe. However, we must be realistic in our expectations. We can establish a timeline for when we anticipate production will commence, but it is essential to recognize that this is a process that must be followed. One cannot simply declare a production start date—be it December, January, or March—without addressing any issues that arise during the process. Safety is paramount, which is why I strive to protect our personnel from the pressures of working in an environment exceeding 300 degrees."
We maintain a positive outlook regarding the Port Harcourt Refinery, anticipating that it will commence the production of middle distillates for storage this month. This assertion is not new; we have held this belief since August. We have recently reignited the burners after temporarily shutting them down last night for maintenance, which turned out to be a straightforward repair. Consequently, we are preparing to resume operations. This summarizes the current status of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Furthermore, I remain confident that the refinery will deliver products to storage this month. This confidence is based on observable progress; however, it is important to note that unforeseen circumstances may arise. As I have indicated, the timeline cannot be rigidly enforced, as no process can be expedited at a temperature of 300 degrees Celsius, Segun remarked.