The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has confirmed that the rehabilitated Old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up operations to 90%.
This marks a significant recovery after years of underperformance and operational difficulties, as the refinery, which has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), has recently resumed full production.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NNPC expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their support following the successful restart of the refinery. The company reassured the public, addressing unfounded claims from some quarters suggesting that the refinery is not producing any products. “The Old Port Harcourt Refinery is operational, currently producing at 70% capacity, and we are committed to increasing this to 90%,” the statement said.
The refinery’s daily outputs include straight-run petrol (naphtha), which is blended into 1.4 million liters of petrol. In addition, it produces 900,000 liters of kerosene, 1.5 million liters of diesel, and 2.1 million liters of low-pour fuel oil (LPFO) daily. NNPC also noted that the refinery’s gasoline production incorporates crack C5, a blending component sourced from Indorama Petrochemicals, to ensure the fuel meets required specifications.
In addition to the ongoing success at the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, NNPC announced progress on the new Port Harcourt refinery, which is expected to begin operations soon. The company did not specify an exact timeline but emphasized that the new refinery will operate without prior announcements. The energy company encouraged Nigerians to focus on the positive strides made in the country’s refining capacity under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
NNPC also called for unity in supporting the continued development of the country’s energy sector, stressing that unwarranted criticisms of progress made so far would only hinder further advancements. The company has made substantial investments to rehabilitate the existing refinery, which had previously struggled to meet production targets.
The refineries are part of NNPC’s broader efforts to increase domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products. This comes as part of the company’s strategy to ensure greater energy security and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
As part of the ongoing refinery upgrade, NNPC has emphasized that blending practices, such as those used at Port Harcourt, are standard in the global refining industry to ensure compliance with local fuel specifications. The company also highlighted its commitment to enhancing fuel production and distribution, including the resumption of petroleum product loading at the refinery.
The NNPC concluded by urging Nigerians to continue supporting efforts aimed at building a self-sufficient and resilient energy sector, dismissing claims that could undermine the achievements thus far.
