The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has unexpectedly halted crude oil processing, just three days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced the facility’s resumption. The refinery, which had been inactive since 2015/2016 due to rehabilitation works, now faces renewed scrutiny over its operational status.
A visit to the refinery on Friday, November 29, revealed a noticeable lack of activity. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the facility has temporarily ceased operations for what workers described as a calibration process—a procedure expected to last until the following week.
Earlier this week, NNPCL had reported the loading of petroleum products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Household Kerosene (HHK), from the facility. However, insiders at the refinery disclosed that these products were remnants of pre-2016 stock stored during the refinery’s rehabilitation.
An anonymous official clarified that the products being loaded were “dead stock,” explaining, “These were residual quantities left in the tanks before the shutdown. During the refinery’s rehabilitation, they were evacuated and stored separately.”
The official further revealed that some of these products required additional processing. “The refined petrol was off-spec, needing separation from water to improve quality. Similarly, the kerosene and diesel remain in storage but haven’t been processed for commercial distribution yet,” he said.
Contrary to earlier claims by NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, that the refinery was processing 60,000 barrels of crude daily at 60 percent capacity, the current situation casts doubt on those assertions. Stakeholders are now questioning the transparency and readiness of the refinery’s operations.
The sudden halt raises concerns about the efficiency of the rehabilitation efforts and the readiness of Nigeria’s refineries to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s energy demands. Industry experts and the public alike await further clarification from NNPCL on the future of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
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