A Study of TAM projects in oil refineries
in Rivers State, Nigeria
FEATURED PAPER
By Jude Chukwudi Nnadi, Benedict Amade, PhD, Emmanuel Chinenye Ubani, PhD and Ifeanyi Ibeawuchi Echeme, PhD
Federal University of Technology
Owerri, Nigeria
Abstract
This study specifically evaluated the effects of TAM success factors on the implementation of TAM projects on oil refineries in Rivers state, Nigeria. A survey was conducted using quantitative research methodologies, as well as the census sampling approach, to select a sample size of 78 practitioners at the oil refinery in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A well-structured questionnaire, semi-structured discussions, personal observations, and site visits were employed to collect data from oil refinery respondents. Results were analysed using SPSS Statistics 26.0. The primary objectives of the study were analysed using multiple regression. The data indicate that the five (5) most essential success variables for the successful execution of TAM projects are, in this order, TPC, RTM, FTP, PPR, TEA, FLN, ETT, PES, and QUS. The study shows that four (4) success variables that positively and significantly contribute to the successful execution of TAM projects are listed in this order: TPC, PES, QUS, and PPR. The criteria for robust top management support were identified as adequate in facilitating the implementation of TAM projects in oil refineries. This study concludes that successful TAM initiatives in Nigerian oil refineries requires top management support, qualified workers, and a comprehensive approach to ensure timely petroleum product release and economic growth.
Keywords: TAM projects, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, Success factors, implementation, Oil refineries, Rivers state
1.Introduction
Turnaround maintenance (TAM) is mainly concerned with the engineering activities (maintenance and projects) that are carried out when all the operations of an engineering facility are shut down. Nnadi (2025) describes a planned general outage of equipment and assets that serve as the major means of production or service delivery for essential maintenance and statutory checks that cannot be done while the equipment or TAM is a planned general outage of equipment and assets that are an enterprise’s major means of production or service delivery for the purpose of essential maintenance and statutory checks that cannot be done while the equipment or assets are in operation.
The inability to carry out a successful implementation of turnaround maintenance in oil refineries resulted from using different project management methodologies to manage TAM projects without considering their unique features as major means of production or service delivery for essential maintenance and statutory checks that cannot be done while the equipment or assets are in operation. Inability to carry out a successful implementation of turnaround maintenance in oil refineries resulted from using different project management methodologies to manage TAM projects without considering their unique features (Oliver, 2018). According to Ertl (2015) and Oliver (2013), the inability to successfully implement turnaround maintenance in oil refineries resulted from using different project management methodologies without considering the unique features of TAM projects (Oliver, 2018). these unique features mean that the factors affecting TAM projects’ success and how they impact on it are different from that of EPC projects. Oliver (2013) pointed out that because these features of TAM projects are different from EPC projects, TAM projects are wrongly evaluated using EPC project evaluation. TAM projects are wrongly evaluated using EPC project evaluation.
In Nigeria, the inability to carry out successful implementation of turnarounds in their refineries is one of the major problems. This causes petroleum product scarcity despite being a major OPEC oil producer. This is because if TAM fails, I can reduce the capacity of the oil refinery, and I can also make it difficult to recover its productivity and efficiency (Pighadshy, 2019). Globally, refineries are faced with a rise in maintenance costs, maintenance time and their devastating impact on the operating budget in the long term due to unexpected and frequent failures. According to Prescott (2019), a typical refinery shutdown amounts to an estimated loss of between $20,000 and $30,000 per day. The enormity of the costs associated with TAM of oil refineries most of the time exceeds 30% of the allocated budget of TAM (Rebitzer & Hunkeler, 2018). TAM duration requires considerable attentions with critical equipment to execute its activity during a short period. The aim of this study is to ascertain if the identified factors contribute to the successful implementation of TAM projects in oil refineries.
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How to cite this paper: Nnadi, J. C., Amade, B., Ubani, E. C., Echeme, I. I. (2026). Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Project Success Factors: A Study of TAM projects in oil refineries in Rivers State, Nigeria; PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue I, January. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pmwj160-Jan2026-Nnadi-et-al-TAM-project-success-factors.pdf
About the Authors
Jude Chukwudi Nnadi, M.Sc.
Federal University of Technology
Owerri, Nigeria
Jude Chukwudi Nnadi, M.Sc is a Project manager and oil industry expert. He just concluded his PhD in Project Management Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria. Jude is an expert in planning, controlling and monitoring project activities to achieve the desired goal. Jude has been the Chairman of a community development wing in his community. He has successfully completed some town hall projects. He has equally taught in a Polytechnic as a part-time lecturer. Jude can be reached on; chukwujiumem1@gmail.com.
Benedict Amade, PhD
Federal University of Technology
Owerri, Nigeria
Dr. Benedict Amade is a Chartered Project Manager by Profession and a Probationer (Member) of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). He read and obtained a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) Degree in Project Management Technology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. He is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) U.S.A. Chairman, Research and Academic Matters, Association of Practicing Professional Project Managers of Nigeria (APPPMON) and a Fellow of Tertiary Education Trust Fund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR), and presently the Deputy Director, Centre for Research Innovation and Development (CRID) and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Project Management Technology all at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria where he has been lecturing for the past 16 years. His areas of research interest include construction project management, computer-based project management, construction supply chain management and information technology on construction projects. He has authored over 65 scientific publications in international refereed journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, Scimago etc. He has presented quality papers at international conferences both home and abroad. He is actively involved in other consultancy works. He can be reached at https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3368-5432; benedictamade@yahoo.com; benedictamade@futo.edu.ng; benedictamade2@gmail.com.
Emmanuel Chinenye Ubani, PhD
Federal University of Technology
Owerri, Nigeria
Prof. Emmanuel Chinenye Ubani is a is a Professor in the Department of Project Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. He holds a B.Sc, M.Eng and Ph.D in Industrial Engineering and Project Management. And at one time he was the Associate Dean of the School of Logistics and Innovation Technology. His areas of research interest include; Engineering Project Management, and Materials Requirement Planning. He is member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Administration. Professor Ubani can be reached at drecubani@yahoo.com and emmanuel.ubani@futo.edu.ng.
Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme, PhD
Federal University of Technology
Owerri, Nigeria
Dr. Ibeawuchi Ifeanyi Echeme is a is a Reader in the department of Project Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Echeme has a B.Tech, MSc, and PhD in Project Management Technology. He has published more than twenty (20) articles in both international and national reputable journals and a textbook on Project Time, Cost and Quality Management. He is a Certified Project Director (CPD) and a member of International Project Management Professionals (IPMP). Dr. Echeme has presented papers in conferences and workshops within and outside Nigeria. He can be contacted through; ibeawuchi.echeme@futo.edu.ng and ibeecheme@yahoo.com.
