NNPC Insists Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational – Invites Skeptics for Facility Tour

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mele Kyari has confidently assured Nigerians that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is fully operational and actively involved in loading operations.

Kyari made this statement during the commissioning of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG Towers in Lagos, emphasizing that the refinery’s functionality was beyond doubt.

During the event, Kyari took the opportunity to address skeptics, including human rights activist and lawyer Femi Falana who was there as a Special Guest. The NNPCL Boss extended a formal invitation to Falana and anyone else questioning the refinery’s status to join NNPC Ltd on a tour of its refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna for firsthand verification.

Kyari also responded to the ongoing debate surrounding the practice of blending petroleum products, clarifying that blending is not a criminal act but a standard procedure in the refining process. He explained that blending is essential to ensure products meet the specifications of different countries. “If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products which will destroy your vehicles. Every refinery blends because what is on specification in the United States of America will be off-spec in Nigeria and elsewhere,” Kyari noted.

In his speech, Kyari congratulated the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on the successful completion of the NUPENG Towers and encouraged the union to continue fostering cooperation and dialogue with NNPC Ltd and the Federal Government.

He also highlighted the positive impact of the President’s interventions in the oil and gas sector, particularly through Executive Orders. According to Kyari, these initiatives were already yielding favorable results, including attracting more investments and creating new job opportunities in the industry.