The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has debunked claims suggesting that the Port Harcourt Refinery has not resumed operations, clarifying that the facility is currently producing at 90% of its 60,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) capacity. This translates to approximately 1.4 million liters of Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha) for petrol blending, alongside diesel and kerosene production.
In a statement, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, addressed allegations made by Timothy Mgbere during a national television appearance. Mgbere had alleged that the refinery was merely distributing old stock of petroleum products and not yet fully operational. Soneye dismissed these claims as baseless, citing the integration of the refinery’s old and new plants, which share facilities such as storage tanks and power plants.
“The Old and New Port Harcourt Refineries have been integrated with a single terminal for product load-out,” Soneye clarified. “This integration means products from the old refinery can be loaded from the same gantry as the new refinery, debunking claims of separate operations.”
Soneye further criticized Mgbere for his misunderstanding of refinery operations, describing his statements as a “blatant display of ignorance.”
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) corroborated NNPC’s stance, affirming that the old refinery is functional. PETROAN’s National PRO, Dr. Joseph Obele, stated: “The Old Port Harcourt Refinery is operating at 70% capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90%. Contrary to misinformation, the revamped refinery is not merely a blending plant but is actively producing refined petroleum products.”
Dr. Obele encouraged doubters to request facility tours through NNPC management rather than spreading unfounded rumors.
Further validation came from the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, which conducted a fact-finding visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery. Led by Senator S.A. Kawu Sumaila, the committee observed the plant in operation and verified the loading of petroleum trucks at the refinery depot.
The committee’s findings were echoed by PETROAN’s National President, Dr. Billy Hary, who praised NNPC’s efforts in reviving a facility that had been dormant for over two decades.
Responding to reports of inflated pricing, Soneye clarified that NNPC Retail Ltd is currently supplying products from the refinery to its retail outlets nationwide. He noted that bulk sales have not commenced as the necessary processes are still being finalized.
“Products from the Port Harcourt Refinery are currently priced at N1,030 per liter for PMS at retail outlets, contrary to speculative claims,” Soneye explained.
PETROAN also highlighted the poor state of the Eleme East-West Road, describing it as a major risk to petroleum truck movements. The association urged the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite ongoing repairs to ensure safe transportation of flammable products from the refinery.
With the old refinery fully operational and the new refinery’s 200,000-bpd capacity plant set to commence production soon, PETROAN and NNPC expressed optimism about Nigeria’s refining future. Both parties also reiterated support for the proposed privatization of state-owned refineries to ensure long-term efficiency.
As the festive season approaches, PETROAN called for a review of petroleum prices to ensure affordability and a seamless supply for Nigerians, while applauding NNPC’s leadership for the strides achieved under Engr. Mele Kyari.
