By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed allegations made by a Rivers State community leader, Timothy Mgbere, who claimed the Port Harcourt refinery is not producing fuel despite recent announcements.
Mgbere, described as a leader in the Alesa community, appeared on national television Thursday, accusing the NNPCL of misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s operations.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, NNPCL’s Chief Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, described Mgbere’s assertions as a “blatant display of ignorance” regarding refinery processes.
NNPCL Clarifies Operations
Soneye refuted the claim that the old Port Harcourt refinery is only operating minimally, explaining that the facility is currently functioning at 90% of its 60,000-barrel-per-day capacity. This output includes the production of straight-run gasoline (Naptha) blended into 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), alongside diesel and kerosene.
“Mgbere alleged that PMS truck-out was done at the gantry of the new Port Harcourt Refinery rather than the old one. This betrays his scant knowledge of refinery operations,” Soneye said.
He clarified that the old and new refineries are integrated, sharing utilities such as power and storage tanks, and operate with a unified terminal for product load-out. “This means that the storage tanks and loading gantry he referred to can receive products from either refinery,” Soneye added.
Contradictions in Claims
Soneye further pointed out inconsistencies in Mgbere’s statements, noting that while he claimed PMS loaded at the new refinery’s gantry was “old stock” from the old refinery, he failed to explain how such stock could be transferred between the facilities if the operations were as he alleged.
“His flawed argument suggests that ‘old stock’ can be moved for show at the new refinery’s gantry, but new PMS from the old refinery must be loaded at its dedicated gantry. This is nothing but ignorance on full display,” Soneye stated.
Public Reassurance
The NNPCL urged the public to disregard what it described as baseless claims designed to mislead. “The so-called ‘community person’s’ assertions are borne out of mischief and a lack of understanding of refinery operations,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes as the Port Harcourt refinery undergoes a phased rehabilitation to boost domestic fuel production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined products.
