Old PH Refinery: The Old Has Become New Again, Says Communications Consultant — Olorunfemi

A Nigerian communications consultant and publisher of Africa Enterprise, Simbo Olorunfemi, has stated that the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has undergone a comprehensive rehabilitation, is now producing high-quality petroleum products after years of dormancy.

In qn article penned after an on the spot assessment of the facility in Rivers state, he added that not only is the refining going on at the ‘old’ 60,000 bpd refinery (Area V), the extensive rehabilitation work at the ‘new’ 150,000 bpd refinery (Area I) is going on at the same time, with over 3000 workers contacted by contractors and sub-contractors busy with installation, welding, construction and other activities within the complex under the supervision of the 158-man workforce of the NNPC Ltd.

While saying that the old refinery was designed to process TNP, a blend of Medium Nigerian Crude oil, the new refinery can process third-party crude oil.

He noted that the refinery has its own utilities and tank farm and it is designed to generate its gas as process fuel, supplied by processing LPG from storage through the LPG plant, adding that the successful rehabilitation of the refinery is a testament to the dedication and expertise of Nigerian engineers and technicians.

According to him, the turnaround of the Refinery is a case of triumph over huge odds by a crop of determined and dedicated Nigerians under the leadership of Mele Kyari, the Group CEO, Bayo Adenrele, MD, NNPC Refineries, and Ibrahim Onoja, MD, PHRC.

“The journey of the Port Harcourt Refinery to this point where the wheels are beginning to roll again is long. The official name is the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). PHRC operates two refineries: the old 60,000 barrels (per stream day) plant commissioned in 1965 and the new 150,000 barrels (per stream day) plant commissioned in 1989, originally intended to serve as an export refinery.

“While the old refinery comprises of a Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), a Catalytic Reforming Unit (CRU), and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant, the new refinery includes a Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), a Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU), a Naphtha Hydrotreating Unit (NHTU), a Catalytic Reforming Unit (CRU), a Continuous Catalyst Regeneration Unit (CCR), a Paraffin Hydrotreating Unit, a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit, Butamer Isomerisation unit, HF Alkylation Unit, Fuel Gas Vapouriser, Sour water and Caustic treatment units, and a Dimersol unit for converting propylene into a petrol blend product,” he stated.

Similarly, he clarified that having a cracking unit means a refinery can handle heavier hydrocarbons and efficiently convert them into lighter, high-value products, which is a hallmark of advanced refining technology.

He said if the Port Harcourt refinery now possesses such a capability, it is a clear indication that the turnaround maintenance (TAM) carried out on the facility has been effective.

While concluding that it is heart-warming to see the raw determination of the dedicated Nigerians on-site directly responsible for the rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt Refinery and their resolve to make things work, he said Nigerians now have a sense of ownership over what is a collective asset, which is how it should be.

“It is difficult to visit the Eleme Complex and not be inspired by the dedication of this team there, seeing how they have toiled to turn around the fortunes of the refinery, to make the old new again,” he stated.