Barely three days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced the resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), crude oil processing at the facility has unexpectedly ceased.
A visit to the refinery on Friday, November 29, revealed an eerily inactive site, raising questions about the status of its operations. Workers at the refinery disclosed that the facility is undergoing a calibration process, which could extend into the following week, according to *Punch* reports.
Questions Over "Dead Stock" Products
Earlier this week, NNPCL had claimed that trucks had begun loading refined products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Household Kerosene (HHK), from the refinery. However, sources within the refinery suggested otherwise.
An anonymous refinery official stated that the loaded products were “dead stock” — leftover quantities of refined petroleum stored in tanks since the refinery’s shutdown in 2015/2016.
“Before the refinery went offline, these products were left in storage. During its rehabilitation, these stocks were evacuated from tanks for safekeeping,” the source explained.
The official noted that some of the stored petrol was "off-spec," requiring treatment to separate water and debris before it could meet commercial standards. While kerosene stocks remained intact, they had not yet been processed for market readiness.
NNPCL’s Defense Amid Criticism
Earlier, NNPCL's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, stated that the refinery was operating at 60% capacity, processing approximately 60,000 barrels of crude daily. He dismissed claims from local leaders, including Alesa community chief Timothy Mgbere, that the facility was not producing fuel.
“The old and new Port Harcourt refineries have been integrated, sharing utilities and storage facilities. This means products can be loaded from either facility,” Soneye said, urging the public to disregard accusations he described as "sheer mischief and ignorance."
Operational Challenges Persist
The apparent halt has fueled skepticism over the refinery’s readiness to meet Nigeria’s refining needs. While the NNPC remains optimistic about ongoing improvements, industry observers await clarity on the timeline for full and sustained operations.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, a key asset in Nigeria’s quest to reduce dependence on imported fuel, has faced numerous delays and challenges in its rehabilitation process, further spotlighting the complexities of restoring the country's refining capacity.
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