By Charles Maduka
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has officially announced a scheduled shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company for maintenance purposes.
The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, stated on Saturday that the shutdown would begin on May 24 and is expected to last approximately one month. He explained that the exercise is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring safe and efficient operations.
Soneye assured that the NNPC is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to maintain transparency and efficiency throughout the process.
He also clarified that the shutdown is not the result of sabotage, as some indigenous fuel retailers in Eleme, the refinery’s host community, had alleged. According to him, the exercise is a critical safety measure aligned with global standards.
“The facility remains fully operational at this time,” Soneye said. “However, we are set to commence a scheduled safety maintenance exercise to sustain safe refinery operations. We have made provisions for adequate volumes of diesel, kerosene, and other products to ensure uninterrupted supply during this period.”
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable energy security in Nigeria and promised that updates would be provided regularly through official channels.
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