The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has announced that the Kaduna refinery is expected to resume operations by the end of 2024. This timeline was provided during an assessment of the ongoing quick-fix project at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited (KRPC).
Lokpobiri, accompanied by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and other top executive directors, inspected the progress of work at the refinery.
The minister expressed his confidence in the projected timeline, citing the “significant level of progress” he observed during the tour. To ensure the Kaduna refinery’s timely restart, he affirmed that the federal government would continue to offer its support.
Lokpobiri emphasized the need for accountability among the key players involved in the rehabilitation process to ensure the project’s successful delivery.
He underlined the urgency of bringing the refinery back into operation, highlighting its significance for the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security, both vital aspects of sustainable development.
Mele Kyari, the NNPC CEO, echoed the commitment to meet the timeline, assuring that all necessary measures are in place. He stated that the equipment required for the quick-fix project is already available and that it would result in a daily output of 60,000 barrels once completed.
“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,” Kyari said.
The plan for a quick fix with an initial capacity of 60,000 barrels per day is designed to start generating revenue from the plant while further work is undertaken to bring the refinery up to its full-fledged capacity.
This aligns with the completion of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) project on the pipeline, which will enhance the reliability of pipeline delivery infrastructure, further benefiting the nation’s energy sector.