December 05, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has again reiterated that the Old Port Harcourt refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 7-storey new national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), in Lagos, on Wednesday, the company’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, also clarified that blending is part of the refining process of petroleum products.
THEWILL reports that Kyari’s reaction follows earlier remarks by human rights activist and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, who in his goodwill message challenged the leadership of NUPENG and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), among others, tell Nigerians the true state of Port Harcourt refinery and others, saying there are too many controversies around them.
Kyari, however, extended an invitation to Falana and others who question the functional state of the refinery, to join the NNPC Ltd on a tour of the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to verify their status. According to the GMD, works are going on in both Warri and Kaduna refineries and those in doubt can indicate interest to visit any of them.
“The repairs of Port Harcourt and other refineries are real. The Port Harcourt refinery is running. As we speak, the plant is running and loading is going on.
“I invite you to visit the Warri Refinery and Kaduna refineries or you can nominate any person of your choice to visit. Work is going. Port Harcourt produces not only Petrol but also kerosene. We will shock you with the other refineries. We will not give you a date (for the resumption of production).
“There is no refinery where you open a tap and rinse out the gasoline so that it will not blend. There is no crime committed when you blend in a refinery. If we go the way it is done abroad, all your gas will go because of the environmental pressure.
“Requirements are different. Every refinery that mixes gasoline is a mixture of chemicals. There is no one chemical”, he said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
