By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) on May 24, 2025.
The NNPCL said the Port Harcourt refinery’s shutdown is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the facility.
This was contained in a statement released on Saturday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye.
The statement reads in part: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025.
“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.
“NNPC Ltd remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security.”
The New Diplomat reports that this development has begun to escalate concerns among local retailers and Nigerians at large about potential fuel supply disruptions.
The development also comes despite past investments in the refinery’s rehabilitation, raising questions about its operational reliability and the effectiveness of prior maintenance efforts.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, located in Rivers State, is one of Nigeria’s key oil refining facilities, comprising an older 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) plant and a newer 150,000 bpd facility, with a combined capacity of 210,000 bpd.
Managed by the NNPCL, the refinery is critical to Nigeria’s goal of reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
However, the facility has a history of prolonged dormancy and operational challenges.
The refinery resumed operations in November 2024 after extensive rehabilitation efforts starting in 2021, which reportedly cost $1.5 billion.
Despite this significant funding, the refinery has struggled to operate at full capacity, with recent reports indicating it functions at just 37.87% of its installed capacity, far below the 70% claimed by NNPCL.
