The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has firmly addressed claims made by human rights activist Femi Falana regarding the operational status of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
In a recent statement, NNPCL's Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, emphasized that the refinery is indeed operational and actively producing petroleum products. This assertion was made during the grand commissioning ceremony of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Tower in Lagos.
Kyari extended an open invitation to Falana and other skeptics to visit the refinery and witness its operations firsthand. He stated, "It is not fantasy, it is real. This is not a street talk. I am inviting you to see the ongoing level of work. It will shock you."
He further elaborated on the necessity of blending in the refining process, explaining that "every refinery blends" to meet specific regional specifications, thus ensuring product quality and safety.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, which resumed crude oil processing after a major rehabilitation effort initiated in 2021, is currently operating at a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day. This development follows a $1.5 billion rehabilitation contract awarded to the Italian firm Tecnimont S.P.A, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, underlined the importance of collaboration between the government and oil and gas unions like NUPENG and PENGASSAN. He urged these unions to maintain accountability and foster growth within the sector for the benefit of the nation.
In response to Falana's concerns, Kyari reiterated that the NNPCL is committed to transparency and is working diligently to ensure the refinery's success, dismissing any claims to the contrary as "malicious." The NNPCL's stance is clear: the Port Harcourt Refinery is operational, contributing to the nation's energy supply, and open for inspection by those who doubt its functionality.
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