By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed claims circulating in sections of the media that the recently revived Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, assured the public that the refinery remains “fully operational.” The statement emphasized that the reports were false and intended to mislead the public.
“The refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC,” Soneye stated. Preparations for loading operations are underway, he added.
The 60,000 barrels-per-day capacity refinery resumed operations two months ago after being out of service since 2019. Its rehabilitation followed a Federal Government investment of $1.5 billion to restore the facility.
Despite being one of the world’s largest crude oil producers, Nigeria has long depended on imported petroleum products due to insufficient refining capacity. This reliance on imports, coupled with years of subsidizing petrol prices, has placed a significant strain on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery began producing petrol in September 2024, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce dependency on imports. NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari noted that the new Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) complex, with a 150,000 barrels-per-day capacity, is expected to commence operations by mid-2025.
The old refinery, now fully operational, is said to be capable of supplying 200,000 trucks with various petroleum products daily. According to Kyari, the primary challenge during the refinery’s overhaul was replacing outdated machinery with brand-new equipment.
Soneye urged the public to disregard false reports, stating that they were intended to create artificial scarcity and exploit Nigerians.
