According to a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, on Thursday in Abuja, the flag off signaled the formal commencement of the first phase of the rehabilitation of the 210,000 barrels per day capacity refinery.
The statement said that the project would be executed by Milan-based Maire Tecnimont S.P.A, in collaboration with its Nigerian affiliate, Tecnimont Nigeria.
It added that Maire Tecnimont S.P.A is listed on Milan Stock Exchange with interest in international engineering and construction, technology and licensing, and energy business development.
The NNPC explained the Tecnimont Group has operations in 40 countries, numbering about 50 operative companies with a workforce of about 5,500 employees.
The Port Harcourt Refinery complex houses the 60,000 barrels per day old refinery that was built in 1965 and the 150,000 barrels per day new refinery, inaugurated in 1989.
The last turn around maintenance of the refinery was 19 years ago, according to officials of the NNPC.