The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has addressed circulating reports suggesting the shutdown of the old Port Harcourt refinery.
Refuting the claims, NNPC emphasized that the refinery remains active, producing petroleum products as intended since its recommencement of operations in November.
Following a major rehabilitation effort, the refinery began crude oil processing on November 26, achieving a functional capacity of 70%.
It has since been producing 900,000 liters of kerosene and 1.5 million liters of diesel daily.
The facility also generates 2.1 million liters of low-pour fuel oil (LPFO) and additional volumes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), alongside the blending of naphtha to produce 1.4 million liters of petrol per day.
NNPC clarified that the refinery’s operations were verified by former Group Managing Directors during a recent visit.
The company attributed the false reports to attempts by certain individuals to create panic and disrupt market stability, potentially causing artificial fuel scarcity.
The national oil firm assured Nigerians that preparations for loading petroleum products are ongoing and dismissed the allegations as baseless.
It encouraged citizens to rely on verified information regarding the refinery’s activities, highlighting its critical role in the nation’s energy sector.
Despite skepticism from some quarters over the blending operations at the refinery, NNPC reaffirmed that such practices align with standard procedures to optimize output.
The company reiterated its commitment to ensuring a steady supply of petroleum products while dismissing fears about operational inefficiencies.
