By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is not shut down but is fully operational.
This has triggered mixed reactions from
Nigerians. While some hail the clarification, others are indifferent.
The statement by NNPCL was made to counter reports suggesting inactivity at the facility and claiming that the refinery has been shut down.
According to the NNPCL, preparations for loading operations were ongoing.
The NNPCL also emphasized that the refinery is capable of delivering 200 trucks daily with various petroleum products, operating at 70% capacity.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye in Abuja on Saturday.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to clarify that such reports are false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.
“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 New Diplomat reports that the Port Harcourt refinery had begun operation after a long delay involving at least seven missed deadlines.
NNPCL said the Port Harcourt refinery is operating at 60,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The rehabilitation process for the total 210,000 bpd refinery began in 2021 after the federal government secured a $1.5 billion contract to fix the facility, which had been left in a state of incapacity for years.
