The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has clarified its commitment to refurbishing the country’s refineries, emphasising that the ongoing work on the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries represents a comprehensive overhaul rather than routine Turnaround Maintenance (TAM). This development aims to bring the refineries to world-class standards.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, addressed remarks by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had expressed doubts about the operational viability of the rehabilitated refineries. Obasanjo had cited prior warnings from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) regarding the challenges of corruption affecting the Port Harcourt Refinery and accused the NNPCL of misleading the public about its functionality.
Responding to these concerns, Soneye outlined NNPCL’s achievements, including the complete renovation of the 60,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Harcourt Refinery and the Warri Refinery. He stressed that the ongoing refurbishment is a significant departure from the traditional maintenance practices of the past, with efforts directed at creating refineries capable of sustainable operations at international standards.
Additionally, Soneye noted that similar renovation projects are being carried out at the second Port Harcourt Refinery, with a capacity of 150,000 bpd, and the Kaduna Refinery. He reiterated NNPCL’s dedication to ensuring these facilities operate efficiently to meet Nigeria’s energy needs.
This comprehensive overhaul underscores NNPCL’s efforts to address long-standing issues in the nation’s refining sector, with the goal of enhancing domestic refining capacity and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.