Port Harcourt Refinery operational – NNPC

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has confirmed that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is operational, with loading activities fully underway.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, revealed that the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, announced the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos on Wednesday.

Mr Kyari invited human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, alongside other sceptics, to join the NNPC on a tour of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to verify their operational status.

He also addressed the ongoing debate on product blending, clarifying that blending is a legitimate and essential part of the refining process.

“If you don’t blend in, you will bring out off-spec products which will destroy your vehicles. Every refinery blend because what is on the specification in the United States of America will be off-spec in Nigeria and elsewhere. Blending is necessary to bring products to the specification of different countries or regions,” he explained.

Kyari congratulated NUPENG on the successful completion of the NUPENG Towers and encouraged the union to maintain a focus on dialogue and cooperation in its engagements with NNPC and the federal government.

He highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s interventions in the oil and gas industry, implemented through Executive Orders, were already delivering positive outcomes, including increased investments and the potential for more job opportunities in the sector.