The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on Petroleum Resources Downstream to organise an investigative hearing to ascertain the true state of the Port Harcourt refinery which the Federal Government has approved the sum of $1.5billion for the rehabilitation.

The House also mandated the committee to carry out a comprehensive audit of funds previously spent on the Port Harcourt refinery and other refineries across the country.

This decision follows a motion moved as a matter of public importance by Representative Onofiok Luke.

The lawmakers expressed worry that so much had been spent on maintaining and rehabilitating the refineries but the outputs have barely improved.

They also asked the Federal Government to grant licenses and provide incentives for the construction of modular refineries.

The Federal Executive Council last week approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery which is said to commence immediately.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who made the announcement after the FEC meeting said the rehabilitation will be carried out in three phases.

Sylva said the first phase will be completed in 18 months which will take the refinery to a production of 90 percent of its capacity, the second phase will be completed in 24 months, while the final phase will be completed in 44 months.