NNPC Defends Port Harcourt Refinery, Addresses Claims
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has issued a strong statement reaffirming the progress made at the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, following the successful restart of the facility. The company expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support, highlighting the refinery’s operations and addressing recent misleading claims regarding its production capabilities.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NNPC Ltd. confirmed that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, which has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity. Plans are underway to increase this to 90% in the near future. Despite claims from some quarters suggesting the refinery is not producing products, NNPC Ltd. outlined its daily outputs, including:
- 1.4 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol) from Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha)
- 900,000 litres of Kerosene
- 1.5 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO or Diesel)
- 2.1 million litres of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO)
- Additional volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
The statement also clarified the role of blending in the refinery’s operations. “The refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals, to produce gasoline that meets required specifications,” the company explained. “Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes.”
NNPC Ltd. further emphasized the progress being made with the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which is expected to begin operations soon. However, the company refrained from providing specific timelines for the new refinery’s commencement.
The board and management of NNPC Ltd. called for unity and support, urging Nigerians to focus on the significant strides being made in the nation’s energy sector under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu. “Malicious attacks on clear progress only undermine the substantial achievements of NNPC Ltd. and the country,” the statement concluded. “Let us move forward together in building a stronger and more self-sufficient energy sector.”
The statement reflects the NNPC’s commitment to transparency and its ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, with the eventual goal of achieving greater self-sufficiency in petroleum production. Nigeria-China Trade Value Hits N7.4tn, Says VP Shettima
