The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has refuted reports claiming that the recently resuscitated old Port Harcourt Refinery has been shut down, emphasizing that the facility is “fully operational.”
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that the refinery, which resumed operations two months ago after years of inactivity, remains functional.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC,” Soneye stated. He added that preparations for the day’s loading operations were underway.
The old Port Harcourt Refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, was reopened following a $1.5 billion overhaul approved by the Federal Government in 2021. The plant, which had been shut down since 2019, is now supplying products for distribution, capable of feeding 200,000 trucks daily.
Soneye dismissed the circulating rumors as attempts to “create artificial scarcity and rip off Nigerians.”
Progress on Nigeria’s Refining Capacity
Despite being one of Africa’s largest oil producers, Nigeria has historically struggled with refining its crude, relying on imports for petroleum products. This has led to significant foreign exchange drains due to subsidies and rising import costs.
The recent restart of the old Port Harcourt Refinery complements the ongoing operations at the Dangote Refinery, which began petrol production in September 2024. Additionally, the NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, announced that the 150,000 barrels per day new Port Harcourt Refinery complex is expected to commence operations by mid-2025.
Kyari attributed delays in the resuscitation of the old refinery to the complete overhaul of its machinery, ensuring the use of brand-new components.
The NNPCL’s efforts aim to bolster local refining capacity, reduce dependency on imports, and stabilize the supply of petroleum products across the country.
