The new Nigerian Oil Minister, Heineken Lokpobiri announced it is predicted that four oil refineries will start operations by the end of the 2024, Reuters reported.

He added that the southern Port Harcourt plant is expected to start operation as early as December.

The government said, last year, that this refinery will start processing oil by the end of the 2022, while it the plan was unsuccessful.

During his inspection to Harcourt plant, the minister said that “From what we have seen here today, Port Harcourt refinery will come on board by the end of the year,” he said, noting that two other facilities in Warri and Kaduna will start operations between Q1 and end of 2024.

“our objective… is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria stops fuel importation,” he elaborated.