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CONTROVERSY OVER PETROL PRODUCTION FROM PORT HARCOURT REFINERY: NNPCL NOT PRODUCING – REPORT; IT’S MISLEADING CLAIMS, WE’RE PRODUCING – NNPC
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is not trucking out Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from the Port Harcourt Refinery as it claimed on Tuesday, top sources in the know have revealed to SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters was informed that the NNPCL instead bought “Cracked C5 petroleum resins” and blended it with other products including Naphtha to sell to the Nigerian public as though the refinery processed it.
Top sources familiar with the activities of the company and the state of the refinery told SaharaReporters that the claim of trucking out PMS from the reopened refinery was a lie.
The sources had earlier said, “The plant is running but it is the old one of 60,000bpd capacity but you can’t get PMS from it except diesel. The part that produces PMS is yet to start.”
Speaking further with SaharaReporters, a top source in the refinery said, “If you hear they are trucking out PMS from the depot, know it is a lie. They bought Crack C5 from Indorama company in Port Harcourt and blended it with Naphtha to sell to the public.”
The source added, “Cracked 5 is modified petroleum resins.”
Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) is a Group Company of Indorama Corporation, a Poly-Olefins producer based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Meanwhile, Naphtha can be produced from a variety of sources, including: crude oil, natural-gas condensates, petroleum distillates, coal tar, and peat.
The NNPCL on Tuesday in a statement, backed by some videos of NNPCL branded trucks, had announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery had become operational and that it had started trucking out PMS from the refinery.
However, SaharaReporters was reliably informed that the company only bought Cracked C5 petroleum resins from Indorama and blended it with other products including Naphtha to sell to Nigerians.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the NNPCL claimed that it had fulfilled its pledge of re-streaming the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), signalling the commencement of crude oil processing from the plant and delivery of petroleum products into the market.
On Tuesday, the company had claimed that trucks began loading petroleum products which include PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel and Household Kerosene (HHK) or Kerosene, while other product slates will be dispatched as well.
Speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the commencement of products loading at the Refinery on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Group CEO, Mr. Mele Kyari, described the commencement of the loadout activities as a monumental achievement for Nigeria which signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for the country.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the Port Harcourt Refinery celebrated by the NNPCL as working is the old refinery built in 1965 which could only produce diesel and is of 60,000 barrels’ capacity.
“The refinery is in two parts. The old refinery built 1965 of 60, 000 barrel’s capacity which when commissioned will only give you 1million litres of PMS. You have the new refinery built 1989 which is of 150,000 barrels per stream day.
“If commissioned, it will give you 10 million litres of PMS. As of today, when they say Port Harcourt refinery is coming on stream, they are referring to the old one which we were battling with for months,” another top source had revealed.
“The new one is far from ready. We are looking at 2026 for the new one to be ready. If we finally commission the old one, it will be insignificant because Nigeria will not feel the impact,” the source noted.
Tuesday’s move by the NNPC had come after a series of failed deadlines for the commencement of production at the refinery in Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has however expressed heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians for their support and excitement over the safe and successful restart of the 60,000 barrels-per-day Old Port Harcourt Refinery.
This achievement marks a significant step forward after years of operational challenges and underperformance.
We are, however, aware of unfounded claims by certain individuals suggesting that the refinery is not producing products.
For clarity, the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90%.
The refinery is producing the following daily outputs:
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
It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications. Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes.
Additionally, we have made substantial progress on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which will begin operations soon without prior announcements.
We urge Nigerians to focus on the remarkable achievements being realized under the able and progressive leadership of President Bola Tinubu and to support efforts aimed at delivering more dividends to the nation. Malicious attacks on clear progress only undermine the significant strides made by NNPC Ltd and the country.
Let us move forward together in building a stronger and more self-sufficient energy sector.
Olufemi Soneye
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd
