The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has officially confirmed that operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery have been temporarily reduced to facilitate essential upgrades aimed at enhancing the facility's efficiency and reliability. This announcement was made during a guided tour of the refinery, led by Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, and attended by key executives from the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company Limited.
The Executive Director of Operations, Moyi Maidunama, clarified that while operations are not completely halted, they have been scaled back to address technical issues that will ultimately boost the refinery's capacity. "We are currently managing the process with the available resources to ensure that product distribution continues smoothly," Maidunama stated.
The refinery has undergone significant improvements, including the replacement of critical equipment such as pumps and instrumentation. "We have carried out a massive revamp of the facility. The plant is operational, and we are trucking out our products," Onoja added.
Despite concerns from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) regarding pricing, NNPCL emphasized that its current operations are focused on supplying its retail outlets exclusively. The company is reviewing its pricing strategy in light of operational realities to ensure competitiveness in the market.