By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has called on Nigerians to focus on the milestone achieved with the revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery while dismissing “malicious claims” that the facility is not producing refined petroleum products.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, the company assured the public that the refinery, which resumed operations this week, is functioning efficiently and producing refined products at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to scale up to 90%.
“We urge Nigerians to concentrate on the remarkable achievements being realized under the able and progressive leadership of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, and to support efforts aimed at delivering more dividends to the nation,” the statement read.
Soneye criticized the spread of “unfounded claims” that undermine the progress made at the refinery. “Malicious attacks on clear progress only serve to distract from the significant strides achieved by NNPC Ltd. and the country,” he added.
Refinery Output and Global Standards
Highlighting the refinery’s current output, Soneye detailed the daily production levels:
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or Petrol): 1.4 million liters (blended from Straight-Run Gasoline and crack C5 from Indorama Petrochemicals)
Kerosene: 900,000 liters
Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel): 1.5 million liters
Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO): 2.1 million liters
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Additional volumes
He explained that blending components like crack C5, sourced from sister companies such as Indorama Petrochemicals, are a standard practice in refineries worldwide to meet gasoline specifications.
Expansion Plans
Soneye also revealed progress on the new Port Harcourt refinery, which is expected to commence operations shortly. “We have made substantial progress on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which will begin operations soon without prior announcements,” he said.
The resumed operation of the Port Harcourt refinery is seen as a significant step in Nigeria’s effort to enhance domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. NNPCL has assured the public of its commitment to improving local energy security while scaling production capabilities to meet national demand.
