Mr Mustapha Yakubu, Chief Operating Officer, Refineries & Petrochemicals, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja, on Monday.

“As you know we have signed the EPC for the Port Harcourt refineries and we have also had a Technical starting meeting which signaled the beginning of the project.

“As we speak, the EPC contractor is on site, mobilised fully and working with our project management group.  They (officials) have commenced all the activities.

“I am told that they have fully set up their site offices and have mobilised some of their staff members to Port Harcourt refineries.

“So, work has started and by now they should have started the engineering work  and soon will proceed to the main activities,’’ he said

He said that the corporation was working hard to get the Warri and Kaduna Refineries on board.

He said that the evaluation process was completed adding, more work and processes  were still on to get them ready for rehabilitation.

“We are confident that we will get then done well,’’ he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on April 6, signed the EPC contract with Maire Tecnimont SPA, an Italian company, for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC).

The inaugural meeting on the signaling of the take-off of the project took place at the Port Harcourt Refinery on May 6.(NAN)