The Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) has explained why Port Harcourt Refinery Company is yet to start working.

This is after the NNPC had promised a September completion deadline, which later failed.

In an interview with Punch, the NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, explained that the company encountered risks and challenges while carrying out the rehabilitation, being a brownfield project.

He noted that the NNPC began the commissioning of critical equipment and processing units after the mechanical completion in Nigeria.

“However, as is common with brownfield projects of this scale and complexity, we encountered unforeseen risks and challenges,” he stated.

Nonetheless, he told The PUNCH that the issues were resolved and commissioning activities have resumed.

Soneye stressed that work is being carried out to ensure the project’s completion.