PORT HARCOURT REFINERY: CONTRACTOR REFUSES TO DISCLOSE COMPLETION TIMELINE
Key Details:
1. Contractor's Position: Maire Tecnimont SpA, the contractor responsible for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, stated that it cannot publicly reveal details about the project, including the completion date.
2. Legal Standpoint: In response to a letter from Nigerian Senior Advocate Femi Falana, the contractor's law firm, Olajide Oyewole LLP, clarified that Maire Tecnimont, as a private entity, is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
3. Government's Involvement: Since December 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has repeatedly promised that the refinery would soon start selling refined products. However, the August 2024 deadline for operation was missed, marking the sixth delay in the project.
4. Previous Assurances: Mele Kyari, the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, had previously claimed that the refinery would be operational by early August 2024, but this has not been fulfilled.
5. Current Status: The NNPC maintains that the refinery’s rehabilitation is on track, though no new operational date has been provided.
This situation raises concerns over transparency and the ongoing delays in the refinery’s rehabilitation, affecting Nigeria’s plans to become a net exporter of petroleum products.
Key Details:
1. Contractor's Position: Maire Tecnimont SpA, the contractor responsible for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, stated that it cannot publicly reveal details about the project, including the completion date.
2. Legal Standpoint: In response to a letter from Nigerian Senior Advocate Femi Falana, the contractor's law firm, Olajide Oyewole LLP, clarified that Maire Tecnimont, as a private entity, is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
3. Government's Involvement: Since December 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has repeatedly promised that the refinery would soon start selling refined products. However, the August 2024 deadline for operation was missed, marking the sixth delay in the project.
4. Previous Assurances: Mele Kyari, the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, had previously claimed that the refinery would be operational by early August 2024, but this has not been fulfilled.
5. Current Status: The NNPC maintains that the refinery’s rehabilitation is on track, though no new operational date has been provided.
This situation raises concerns over transparency and the ongoing delays in the refinery’s rehabilitation, affecting Nigeria’s plans to become a net exporter of petroleum products.