By Michael Eboh

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, flagged off the revamp of Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC, under the first phase of the Refineries’ Rehabilitation Project.

Speaking at the flag off of the project in Port Harcourt, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, noted that the refineries’ rehabilitation project was intended to ensure that Nigerian refineries are restored from their current condition to a minimum of 90 per cent nameplate capacity utilisation by end of 2020.

He disclosed that the rehabilitation, which would be in two phases, will be done in conjunction with Eni and the original builders of the refineries, adding that the roles of the original refineries builders would be to review and upgrade the refineries, automate it and introduce latest instrumentation.

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He explained that the first phase of the rehabilitation process would last for six months, noting that NNPC had been encouraged to complete the project before the stated period.

Baru said during the rehabilitation project, Port Harcourt refineries, which had not undergone Turnaround Maintenance, TAM, since year 2000, would have all its equipment opened up, while all its flow systems would be reviewed.

He said: “We will also look at all the flushes, the transmissions, essentially, this is one thorough inspection and where infringement is minimal, it will be fixed and we close back the system.”

Baru disclosed that NNPC had put in place a robust plan to ensure the repair of all the country’s refineries at the most cost effective rate.

He noted that the NNPC Joint Venture partners would supply the needed equipment for the rehabilitation on credit, with NNPC paying later for the equipment.