NNPCL Says Port Harcourt, Kaduna Refineries Undergoing Total Overhaul to Meet Global Standards
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery, both with a combined capacity of 150,000 barrels per day (bpd), are undergoing a total overhaul aimed at meeting world-class operational standards.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NNPCL emphasized that the rehabilitation efforts at the 60,000 bpd Port Harcourt Refinery and Warri Refinery go beyond the usual Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of previous years. Instead, these are comprehensive overhauls, specifically designed to align with global best practices.
This statement was in response to comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who expressed skepticism about the operational status of the rehabilitated Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. Obasanjo had cited advice from the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) that questioned the viability of the Port Harcourt Refinery, due to concerns over corruption. He also accused the NNPCL of misleading Nigerians regarding the operational readiness of its refineries.
In his response, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, reiterated the company’s commitment to overhauling the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, noting that similar rehabilitation work is ongoing at the second Port Harcourt Refinery and the Kaduna Refinery. He assured that the NNPCL is dedicated to maintaining the refineries to international standards, ensuring their long-term sustainability and operational efficiency.
