Victor EzejaThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced a shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), beginning Saturday, 24 May 2025.
In a statement released Saturday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, the national oil company said the shutdown was necessitated by the need for maintenance and sustainability assessment of the facility to ensure optimal performance.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe statement reads: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025.
“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.
“NNPC Ltd remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security.”
Soneye said that further updates about the development will be provided regularly through official channels.
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The Port Harcourt Refining Company has two units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant 150,000 bpd, both having a total of 210,000 bpd.
Prime Business Africa recalls that the refinery resumed operations in November 2024 after years of redundancy.
The Nigerian government had in 2021 approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the refinery.
The government declared the refinery’s mechanical completion and flare start-off on 21 December 2023. However, it took another one year for the NNPCL leadership to announce the restreaming of the plant.
READ ALSO: Nigerians To NNPC: Prove That Port Harcourt Refinery Is Working
Last month, a document reportedly released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed that the Old Port Harcourt refinery, with a 60,000 barrels per day capacity, has been operating at just 37.87 per cent of its installed capacity six months after it resumed operation.
The report contradicted claims by Soneye at the point of resumption that the refinery is operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to increase output to 90 per cent in subsequent months.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
