The Port-Harcourt refinery of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has shut down its operations, with only its non-petroleum unit, the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), still running. According to top sources at the refinery, the CDU produces naphtha, kerosene, and diesel but is unable to produce the component needed for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
This development comes after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the NNPCL was not trucking out PMS from the refinery but was instead blending gasoline. The NNPCL had initially claimed that the refinery was operational and trucking out PMS to the public.
Sources at the refinery revealed that the CDU is running but can only produce small quantities of naphtha, diesel, and kerosene. The processing plant, which has a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, is not expected to commence operations until 2026.
The NNPCL had confirmed SaharaReporters’ exclusive reports, stating that the old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity and producing Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha), blended into 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily.
