Raphael Johnson
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Saturday announced a scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), set to begin on May 24, 2025.
In a statement released by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, the NNPC said the shutdown is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the facility.
The 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.”
The company added that further updates will be provided regularly through official channels, including its website, media platforms, and public statements.
Recall that on Friday, fuel retailers in Eleme and Okrika, the communities hosting the Port Harcourt refinery, kicked against plans to shut it down. According to them, the refinery coordinator, Bayo Adenrele, had ordered the shutdown of the facility for unknown reasons.
The group spoke through a statement jointly signed by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Sunny Nkpe; the BoT Secretary, Emmanuel Inimgba; the Administrative Secretary and spokesman of PETROAN, Dr Joseph Obele; the Administrative Chairman, Tekena Ikpaiki; and a board member, Dickson Obelley.
They alleged that some individuals were making efforts to cripple the revamped 60,000 barrel-per-day-capacity refinery.
“We, the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, are compelled to expose the sinister actions of the refinery coordinator, who is acting as an agent of a private refinery. His actions are deliberately designed to cripple the Port Harcourt refinery, denying it crude oil and shutting it down.
“As we speak, the old Port Harcourt refinery has initiated the process of shutting down on the directives of Engr. Bayo,” the retailers said.
The marketers argued that the shutdown of the refinery would give market dominance to a private refinery, leading to increased fuel prices in Nigeria and further exacerbating the economic hardship faced by the people.
They threatened to hold the coordinator responsible if a fuel crisis erupted after the shutdown of the facility.
