Toba Owojaiye
Abuja, Nigeria
Shell Nigeria has resumed crude oil shipments from its Bonny export terminal to the Port Harcourt refinery, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s energy sector. Bamidele Odugbesan, Shell’s spokesperson, confirmed the development, stating that substantial oil deliveries had been successfully completed throughout the week, with a notable delivery of 475,000 barrels on January 18, 2024.
Osita Nnajiofor, Shell’s Bonny oil terminal manager, emphasized that future supplies to the refinery would be dictated by demand. The Port Harcourt refinery, currently undergoing repairs, is set to recommence operations, initially processing 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) with plans to ramp up to its full capacity of 210,000 bpd later this year.
Truth Live News gathered that Former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the refinery in May 2023, boasting a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It officially commenced operations on January 12, 2024, producing diesel and aviation fuel after receiving crude oil shipments from various suppliers, including Shell.
In a related move, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced its intent to outsource the refinery’s operations to a private entity on January 15, 2024. This decision aims to ensure efficient operations and maintenance, addressing the nation’s fuel supply and energy security requirements.
This comes as long awaited good news in a spiraling economy. The news has been met by expected skepticism