The Port Harcourt Refinery is fully operational, contrary to claims made by critics, the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCE) has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the national president of the society, Mr. Tony Ogbuigwe, assured the public that the refinery is producing refined products, dispelling doubts about its functionality after more than two decades of inactivity.
Ogbuigwe, speaking in an exclusive interview, explained that chemical engineers who have worked on the refinery’s operations confirmed that the facility is running.
According to him, the refinery is now producing key products such as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel, kerosene, and fuel oil.
“The truth of the matter is that the Area 5 of the Port Harcourt Refinery is running and indeed running,” Ogbuigwe stated. He elaborated that the refinery is divided into two parts, with the old refinery currently in operation, while the new refinery is yet to be fully commissioned.
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Ogbuigwe, who emphasized that refinery operations are driven by science and not influenced by emotions, stated that the production process is ongoing in stages, consistent with international refining standards.
He added, “Every refinery does blending every day. It’s a science with no room for sensation. The products are being blended to produce the PMS that we consume in cars and trucks, and even the kerosene we use in our generators.”
Addressing claims about the refinery’s functionality, Ogbuigwe explained that the light naphtha produced by the old refinery is blended with Crack C5 from Eleme Petrochemicals, which results in the production of PMS that meets the 1991 specification.
He also addressed the claims regarding the blending process and confirmed that products are being loaded and dispatched for public consumption.
“Loading has actually taken place, and trucks have been loaded and dispatched,” he confirmed.
The NSCE president further revealed that the refinery is operating at 60 to 70 percent capacity and is expected to ramp up operations to 90 percent as more units come online.
He expressed optimism about the full optimization of the refinery once the Catalytic Reforming Unit is activated.
