The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced a significant milestone in the country’s energy sector: the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is now operating at 70% capacity, producing millions of liters of petroleum products daily. This marks a major step forward in revitalizing Nigeria’s refining capacity after years of challenges.
In a statement by Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, the refinery is currently delivering the following outputs daily:
- Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha): Blended into 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol).
- Kerosene: 900,000 liters.
- Automotive Gas Oil (AGO or diesel): 1.5 million liters.
- Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO): 2.1 million liters.
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Additional volumes.
To ensure compliance with gasoline standards, the refinery blends Straight-Run Gasoline with crack C5, sourced from Indorama Petrochemicals. NNPC highlighted that this practice is standard globally, as no refinery can independently produce fuel that meets all specifications without additional processing.
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NNPC revealed plans to boost the refinery’s capacity from 70% to 90% in the coming months. Meanwhile, significant progress has been made on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which is expected to begin operations soon.
Addressing Doubts and Emphasizing Achievements
NNPC dismissed allegations from critics claiming the refinery is not operational, labeling such remarks as baseless. The company urged Nigerians to recognize the advancements made under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which has prioritized the revitalization of the energy sector.
“Instead of undermining progress with unfounded criticisms, we call on Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to transform the energy landscape,” the company stated.
A Step Toward Energy Independence
The resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery is a critical move toward Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency. With increased production, the country aims to reduce its dependence on fuel imports while ensuring a more stable supply of petroleum products. This achievement sets the stage for a stronger and more resilient energy sector in the years to come.
