PORT HARCOURT REFINERY'S SUBSTATION 1 NOW ENERGISED 

In keeping with the assurance that the Port Harcourt Refinery, constructed in 1965, will be fixed and opened for operations in December 2023, the Substation 1 of the refinery has been energised.

The energised Substation 1 will eventually lead to powering of 14 other Substations because it serves as the primary power hub for both the old and new refineries.

Having been energised, the Refinery is set to receive electricity from gas turbine generators by mid-December 2023, which will supply power to various areas within the refinery complex.

A report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) revealed the level of progress that has already been achieved in the ongoing rehabilitation work at the refinery.

Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Ibrahim Onoja shared some highlights of the report, which said that the Port Harcourt Refinery is now at a stage gearing up for eventual startup and will need powering of the 15 substations to eventually power the entire operations of the Refinery.

 “We have completed over 75% of the tasks, and our workers are putting in round-the-clock efforts to accelerate the process.

"Regarding procurement, we have achieved over 98% completion, and most of the required equipment has been successfully delivered.”

The Lead Electrical Engineer of the refinery rehabilitation project, Chukwudi Iweha said the Substation 1 that has been powered is a crucial step in powering of the other Substations.

According to him, a complete revamp of the electrical system will allow power distribution to both Refinery 1 and Refinery 2.

In all, over 100 staff were members of the team that installed the switchgear panels that comprise high and low-voltage panels and the motor control centre panels that will handle 11,000 volts of electricity.