The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, announced that the current swift rehabilitation initiative at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited is anticipated to resume operations by the conclusion of 2024.
This information was shared in a statement posted on the official handle of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Saturday.
The statement mentioned Lokpobiri’s remarks during an inspection visit to the Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemicals to evaluate the ongoing rapid rehabilitation project on Saturday.
Stating his confidence in the progress witnessed during the tour, the statement quoted Lokpobiri expressing his belief in the refinery’s potential to recommence operations by the end of 2024.
“The Minister, who observed that he would continue to hold key players involved in the rehabilitation process of the nation’s refineries accountable, also pledged Federal Government support in ensuring the timely delivery of the project.
“According to the Minister, there is an urgent need to get the refinery back on stream for the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security, which are both paths to sustainable development.”
In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, reassured the Minister that the fuel plant at the refinery will be delivered by the end of 2024.
He stated that all hands are on deck to bring the refinery back on stream, stressing that the contractor has since mobilized to the site and the needed equipment for the quick-fix activities is already in place.
Kyari said, “We are very confident that we will get the appropriate financing to get to the end of it, and ultimately, we will start to deliver value to Nigerians again. We plan the quick fix for 60,000 barrels per day so that we can start making money from this plant and continue the other part of the refinery to bring it up to its full-fledged capacity.
“This will also tally with the completion of the Build, Operate, and Transfer on the pipeline so as to have a reliable pipeline delivery infrastructure.”
