…After 5 Years
By William Emmanuel Ukpoju
In a significant move aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and ensuring the availability of petroleum products within the country, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has announced the resumption of crude oil supply from its Bonny Oil & Gas Terminal (BOGT) and has completed the supply of over 475,000bbls of crude oil to the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC).
After a prolonged outage lasting over five years, during which the PHRC underwent extensive rehabilitation and integrity activities on its supply pipeline from BOGT, the resumption of crude oil supply marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Dr. Osagie Okunbor, the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of SPDC, lauded the collaborative efforts of teams from BOGT and PHRC in ensuring the success of the project. He stressed the significance of this milestone in the nation’s renewed efforts to utilize key infrastructures for the steady supply of petroleum products to the Nigerian market.
The recommencement of crude oil supply from BOGT to PHRC is expected to have far-reaching effects for Nigeria’s economy, and support the federal government’s aspiration of achieving a steady supply of petroleum products to the downstream market. This move will further stimulate economic growth and stability, thereby fostering a conducive environment for sustainable development.
Prior to implementing the supply, rigorous integrity checks and maintenance activities were conducted on relevant pipelines and refinery export pumps to ensure the safety of personnel, the environment, and equipment. This accentuates SPDC’s commitment to responsible and sustainable oil and gas operations.
The Bonny Terminal Installation Manager, Osita Nnajiofor, emphasized the successful and safe completion of the refinery supply, noting the absence of harm to people, the environment, or equipment. He also stated that the recommencement of crude oil supply signifies a significant achievement and a game-changer for both the industry and the nation, with expected positive impacts on the economy.
The resumption of crude oil supply from the Bonny Oil & Gas Terminal to the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited represents a crucial step forward in Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in petroleum refining and underscores the importance of strategic partnerships, infrastructure investment, and adherence to safety and environmental standards in driving the sustainable development of the nation’s oil and gas sector.
