By Ayomide Otitoju
The manager of the Old Port Harcourt Refinery has confirmed that the facility is fully operational, addressing recent debates surrounding the resuscitation of the 60,000-barrel-per-day plant.
Last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reported that the refinery is operating at 90% capacity, countering earlier claims by the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) that it was functioning at 70%.
In a statement titled “Halt the Rumours: Port Harcourt Old Refinery Is Up and Running, Producing By-Products of Crude Oil” on Thursday, PETROAN clarified its findings during an oversight visit authorized by the refinery’s management. The group emphasized that the old refinery is operational, while the newer 200,000-barrel-per-day unit remains under rehabilitation.
NNPCL Refutes False Claims
On Friday, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye addressed additional misinformation, including allegations that the refinery was producing 1.4 million barrels per day. Soneye clarified that while the refinery’s nameplate capacity is 60,000 barrels per day, its current 90% operation yields 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), along with diesel, kerosene, and other by-products.
“The refinery is running efficiently, producing key products. Claims of old stock blending are entirely false,” Soneye said.
Management Rebuts Criticism
The Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Ibrahim Onoja, dismissed allegations that the refinery is not functional. Speaking during a facility tour with journalists on Sunday, Onoja called the claims baseless and urged Nigerians to ignore them.
“This refinery is operational and running smoothly. Rumors to the contrary are unfounded and serve only to mislead the public,” Onoja stated.
Local Leaders and Workers Express Satisfaction
Dibia Isaiah, Chief Security Officer of Alesa Kingdom, accused one of the critics, Timothy Mgbere, of spreading falsehoods. Isaiah labeled Mgbere an “impostor” and confirmed the refinery’s full functionality, emphasizing that products have been consistently loaded since operations resumed.
“I have personally loaded four trucks, and more are scheduled. The refinery is working at full capacity, and everyone, including the Alesa community, is pleased,” Isaiah said.
A tanker driver, James Onyema, also corroborated the refinery’s operations, expressing satisfaction with the facility’s output and efficiency.
Operational Challenges and Progress
Terminal Manager Molokwu Chike Jewel noted that while the refinery is equipped to load 100 trucks in under five hours, tanker driver delays have slowed activity.
“We have ample product supply and operational loading arms. However, we’ve had to plead with drivers to turn up, especially over the weekend,” Jewel explained.
He added that the facility uses three loading arms, each capable of filling three trucks within 15 minutes, underscoring its capacity to meet demand efficiently.
Background on Port Harcourt Refineries
The Port Harcourt Refinery complex comprises two plants: the old refinery with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and a newer unit capable of processing 200,000 barrels per day, which remains under rehabilitation.
The NNPCL recently announced that production and truck-loading operations have commenced, signaling progress in Nigeria’s efforts to revamp its downstream petroleum sector.
