NNPC says Port-Harcourt Refinery ‘fully operational’ amid shutdown claim

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said Old Port Harcourt Refinery is ‘fully operational’ amid media reports that the plant had been shut down.

In a statement on Saturday, it said: “The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.

“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC. Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing. Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.”