The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC) is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, following years of closure due to maintenance issues.
The Managing Director of KRPC, Mustafa Sugungun, revealed this information during a visit by the Senate Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Downstream, led by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, which was conducted to oversee the refinery’s operations.
He stated that the refinery, which has a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day, is anticipated to commence operations at 60 percent capacity by the end of this year, with plans to reach full production later on.
Sugungun also noted that the current rehabilitation efforts are about 40 percent complete and are on track to finish within the planned timeline.
He said, “Our rehabilitation is going on well and steadily according to the plan we have. We are planning to bring this plant to 60 percent nominal capacity by December 31st, 2024.
“Currently, we are heading towards 40 percent of rehabilitation. We remain committed to bringing back the plant at least 60 percent of our nominal capacity.
“The overall capacity of Kaduna Refinery is 110, 000 barels per day, but we are starting with only 60 percent of that. And in less than one year, we will attain the 110,000 capacity.
“So this initial plant operation is for 60 percent Nigerian crude and 50, 000 barrels of imported crude. Imported crude is mainly for lubricants and other petrochemical aspect of it.”
Senator Ubah noted that the oversight visit was part of a joint effort by President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to revitalize all of Nigeria’s refineries, with the ultimate goal of ceasing the importation of petroleum products.
Established in 1980, the Kaduna refinery was designed to meet the petroleum needs of Nigeria’s Northern region, boasting a production capacity of 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Like its counterparts in Port Harcourt and Warri, the Kaduna refinery has been non-operational for many years, forcing the country to depend significantly on imported petroleum products.