The Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation has achieved significant progress and is nearing readiness for commercial operations. According to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the facility’s restoration work is nearly completed and could be restarted promptly if commercial decisions support such action.
PENGASSAN’s president, Festus Osifo, provided the assessment during an appearance on a national television programme on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. He stated that the refinery has undergone extensive technical rehabilitation and is now mechanically fit for operation.
This evaluation indicates that physical repairs, replacements, upgrades to key systems, and installation of new components have reached an advanced stage. The union’s position is clear: technical constraints no longer limit the refinery’s readiness.
Osifo’s remarks were direct and specific about operational capability. “As of today, you can start the old Port Harcourt refinery, and it will function. You can put it on today, and it will function. However, NNPCL as a company is there to make a profit.”
His comment frames the central issue: the facility is technically prepared, but commercial and financial considerations are the decisive factors for restart timing. This represents a significant shift from earlier stages of rehabilitation, where mechanical readiness was uncertain.
Osifo also emphasised the timeline for a restart if management elects to proceed. “So, if they want to start it today, within the next one week, they can bring it back to life.”
This statement positions the refinery at the threshold of recommissioning, assuming management authorises fuel supply, staffing, and crude feed arrangements. It implies that sustained political and corporate will could see the plant resume operations quickly.
On the rehabilitation progress itself, Osifo reiterated a straightforward assessment. “It has been rehabilitated up to about 90 per cent.”
This measure likely reflects completion of major maintenance tasks, including overhaul of core process units, control systems, safety equipment, and support infrastructure. Achieving 90 per cent rehabilitation indicates only final commissioning checks and minor remaining tasks stand between the refinery and operational status.
Osifo acknowledged that financial output projections from operations could influence decisions. “If you feed crude oil worth, say, five million dollars into the old Port Harcourt refinery, what you are likely to get at the other end when you sell the petroleum products may be about 4.5 million dollars.”
This candid financial view underscores commercial realities. The refinery may generate a negative margin under prevailing crude and refined product pricing. That calculation, rather than technical readiness alone, appears central to management’s hesitancy.
NNPC Limited’s leadership has previously highlighted financial losses associated with running the state-owned refineries and positioned commercial prudence as a priority. That position contrasts with PENGASSAN’s assessment of mechanical readiness but aligns with broader strategic discussions about refinery viability and funding.
The Port Harcourt Refinery’s potential restart carries strategic importance for Nigeria’s energy sector. A functioning domestic refinery could reduce reliance on imported refined products, support price stability, and contribute to foreign exchange savings. However, the balance between economic viability and national supply objectives remains unresolved until management formally greenlights operations.
In summary, the Port Harcourt Refinery is close to operational readiness. Technical work is near complete, but commercial calculations and management decisions will determine when, or if—the plant is restarted.
