The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced that the 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery are undergoing a comprehensive overhaul, designed to meet world-class standards.
Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., clarified this in a statement released on Thursday in response to remarks made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo regarding the restoration of the refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri.
According to the firm, the 60,000 bpd Port Harcourt and Warri refineries underwent a thorough refurbishment that was intended to satisfy international standards rather than the usual Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past.
However, the former president had earlier expressed doubts about the operational status of the rehabilitated 60,000 bpd Port Harcourt refinery and Warri refinery.
He explained that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) advised against the Port Harcourt Refinery’s viability due to corruption and alleged that the NNPC Ltd. misled Nigerians by claiming that its refineries are operational.
Soneye responded by stating that the renovation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries was a noteworthy accomplishment of NNPC Ltd. and that comparable work was being done at the second Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
According to him, NNPC Ltd. is dedicated to maintaining and improving the refineries to international standards for environmentally friendly operations.
However, Soneye extended an invitation to the former president to see the restored refineries and observe directly the advancements made under NNPC Limited’s direction.
“His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we deeply appreciate his insights and guidance, which will always be welcomed and cherished.
“We hold President Olusegun Obasanjo in the highest regard as a respected statesman who has made significant contributions to the growth and progress of Nigeria.
“His dedication to national development and his right to speak on matters of national importance are both deeply respected,” he said.
He further claimed that the NNPC Limited had expanded beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.
And the company’s focus is not only on harnessing traditional resources but also on developing cleaner, cheaper, and sustainable energy solutions to meet Nigeria’s growing demands, he said.
“This progress has been driven by the visionary leadership of the NNPC Limited board and the management team led by GCEO Mele Kyari, alongside President Bola Tinubu’s transformative policies in the energy sector.”
