By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has announced its readiness to commence the production of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) popularly known as aviation fuel.
Managing Director of PHRC, Dr Bafred Enjugu, who disclosed this in a presentation made to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, during an official tour of the 210, 000 barrels per day facility, said the refinery has met all the international parameters for the production of aviation fuel.
He said the decision of PHRC to come up with this was part of efforts to reposition for profitability in line with the 12-point agenda of the management of NNPC.
According to him, “The good news from our stand point is that we have scored 24 out of the 24 parameters for the production of aviation fuel and I must say that this is made possible because of the never-give-up attitude of workers of the great PHRC.”
Dr Enjugu said further that the refinery has successfully blended ATK and was only waiting for appropriate conditions to commence full scale production of the product in response to demand of the aviation sector.
Speaking at the event, Dr Baru described PHRC as the nation’s flagship refining company, noting that the Corporation would do everything possible to ensure that the refinery was not just in operation but also operating profitably and contributing effectively to meeting local demand for petroleum products in line with its vision and mission.
“We cannot under-estimate the importance of refining because that is our identity and we shall do whatever it takes to ensure that your two plants are running at all times and work to tackle whatever could militate against your achieving set targets and objectives,” he said at a town hall meeting with staff members of the refinery.