The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has debunked reports that the Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers State has been shut down.

Reports had, in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, 2024, emerged that the refinery had shut down operations.

Reacting via a statement on Saturday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, said the refinery is “fully operational”.

Soneye stated: “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.

NNPCL debunks claims against Port Harcourt refinery’s operations

“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 Star recalls that the refinery commenced truck-out of petroleum products in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, following its rehabilitation on Tuesday, November 26.

The refinery, managed by the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.

The old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000 bpd.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a $1.5 billion loan to rehabilitate the facility which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.

The Star