The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has urged Nigerians to recognize the strides made in revamping the Port Harcourt refinery, dismissing claims that the facility is not operational.
NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye made the call in a statement on Tuesday, highlighting the refinery’s ongoing production and planned improvements under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“We urge Nigerians to focus 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,” Soneye said.
Soneye confirmed that the Port Harcourt refinery, one of Nigeria’s key oil facilities, is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up production to 90%. He outlined the daily outputs as follows:
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS): 1.4 million liters (via blending of Straight-Run Gasoline and crack C5 components).
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.
Soneye emphasized that the refinery adheres to global standards, including the use of blending practices to meet required fuel specifications.
NNPCL also disclosed that a newly built Port Harcourt refinery is nearing operational readiness. Soneye described its progress as “substantial” and said the launch would proceed without prior announcements.
Addressing skepticism about the refinery’s functionality, Soneye denounced the claims as “malicious attacks” and urged Nigerians to avoid undermining national progress.
“These unfounded claims only undermine the significant strides made by NNPC Ltd. and the country,” he said, reiterating the corporation’s commitment to delivering results.
The revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery is seen as a critical step in Nigeria’s energy sector reforms, aiming to reduce dependence on fuel imports and stabilize the domestic supply of petroleum products.
President Bola Tinubu has prioritized the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries, celebrating the progress at Port Harcourt and directing the reactivation of other facilities to further strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure.
The NNPCL’s defense comes as public interest grows in the refinery’s operations and its potential impact on fuel availability and pricing across the country.