The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has insisted that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, gave the confirmation at the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
There has been serious contention over the operation of the newly rehabilitated refinery after its much-celebrated commencement of production.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said the plant, operating at 70 per cent capacity, will deliver 200 trucks daily. Currently, only trucks belonging to the national oil firm are picking products from the facility.
But in a goodwill message at the event, Kyari extended an invitation to human rights activist and lawyer Mr Femi Falana and all those in doubt to join the NNPC Ltd. on a tour of the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to verify their status.
He also shed light on the controversy around product blending, stating that blending was not a crime as it is an integral part of the refining process.
“If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products, which will destroy your vehicles. Every refinery blends because what is on the specification in the United States of America will be off-spec in Nigeria and elsewhere. Blending is necessary to bring products to the specification of different countries or regions,” he explained.
Kyari also congratulated NUPENG on the successful completion of the NUPENG Towers and urged the union to continue to prioritise dialogue in its relationship with NNPC Ltd and the Federal Government.
