The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has refuted claims circulating in some media outlets that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, which resumed operations two months ago, has been shut down. According to NNPC Ltd., the refinery is fully operational and preparations for the day’s loading operation are currently ongoing.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., stated, “The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down. 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.”
The Port Harcourt Refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), resumed operations in November 2024 after undergoing extensive rehabilitation. This rehabilitation project modernized the refinery, originally built in 1965, into a state-of-the-art facility. Former Group Managing Directors of NNPC, including Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, who served from 1999 to 2003, recently inspected the refinery and described the achievement as “magic”.
Soneye further emphasized, “Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing. Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.”
The NNPC’s statement comes amid skepticism and criticism surrounding the refinery’s revamp. Despite earlier reports indicating that petrol loading had paused on December 13, 2024, NNPC Ltd. has maintained that the refinery is running smoothly and fuel loading operations are continuing as planned.
The Port Harcourt Refinery is the oldest and largest among Nigeria’s three government-owned refineries, and its full operational status is expected to boost domestic supply and reduce the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
