The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has vehemently dismissed reports circulating in some sections of the media claiming that the recently revived Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, the company confirmed that the refinery is “fully operational,” reiterating that the claims of a shutdown are entirely false. Soneye emphasized that the refinery was thoroughly inspected a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC, who verified its operational status.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false. The refinery is fully operational, as verified during a recent inspection,” the statement read, adding that preparations for the day’s loading operations were underway.
The Port Harcourt refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, resumed operations two months ago following a major rehabilitation effort. The plant had been out of service for several years prior to the repairs, which were funded by a $1.5 billion investment approved by the Federal Government three years ago.
Soneye urged the public to disregard the misleading reports, describing them as the work of individuals seeking to create artificial scarcity and exploit Nigerians.
The Port Harcourt refinery, once one of the largest in the country, is expected to play a pivotal role in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products. Despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers, Nigeria has faced persistent challenges in refining its own crude oil, leading to extensive reliance on fuel imports and the associated costs of subsidies.
In a related development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, provided an update on the progress of the new Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC). The newly built refinery, which will have a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, is expected to come online by mid-2025. Kyari also noted that the old refinery, which is now operational, is capable of supplying petroleum products to approximately 200,000 trucks daily.
Kyari acknowledged the challenges in restoring the refinery, particularly the need to overhaul machinery with entirely new equipment. Despite these hurdles, the refinery’s successful return to operation is seen as a significant step towards Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in refining and its broader economic recovery.
