NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Rumors, Claims Port Harcourt Refinery Is Fully Operational

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed claims that the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) has ceased operations, affirming that the facility is fully functional.

PUNCH reports from a visit to the refinery on December 19 suggested that petrol loading activities had paused, with the usually busy depot appearing idle.

Observers noted that the refinery’s 18-arm loading bay was inactive, and only a few trucks were parked along the access road.

However, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi O. Soneye, has described the claims as baseless and inaccurate.

In a statement on Saturday, December 21, Soneye reiterated that the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, remains fully operational.

He added that preparations for daily loading operations are ongoing, urging the public to remain calm, while assuring them of the refinery’s continued operations.

The statement read: “The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.

“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.

“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.”

This comes weeks after the NNPC announced that Port Harcourt Refinery had started producing fuel, claiming that trucks started loading on November 26.