Contrary to claims by critics, the Port Harcourt Refinery is operational.

This was confirmed by the National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Osifo stated that the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) is functional and producing various petroleum products, including naphtha, AGO, DPK, and PMS for the use of Nigerians.

While explaining that the refinery was not designed to produce aviation fuel, Osifo clarified that it is producing other essential products.

“From our checks, the Port Harcourt refinery is actually working, but let me explain it.

“In petroleum product production, you take the crude and pass it to the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU). It is the unit that will extract different products,” he stressed.

He noted that while the Reforming Unit, which processes naphtha, is not yet operational, the naphtha is being blended with Crack C5 to produce PMS.

“As we speak, the unit is working. However, the old Port Harcourt refinery was not designed to produce aviation fuel. So, we are going to have three principal products — naphtha, AGO, and DPK — coming out of the refinery.

“The naphtha is to be passed into what they call the Reforming Unit, and, as we speak, the unit is not working, and we must disclose this to Nigerians. What is now happening is that the naphtha is being blended with Crack C5 for processing so that it can give us PMS.

“What Nigerians should be interested in today is asking if the refinery is producing AGO. Yes, it is. Is it producing kerosene? The answer is yes. Is it producing PMS? Yes, it is. So, we should reduce the concentration on what the processes are.”

Similarly, he emphasized that no refinery in the world produces PMS in a single batch and that the process of producing PMS involves blending naphtha with other products to meet the required specifications.

“There is no refinery in the world that has a CDU that produces PMS in a single batch. No. Even Dangote Refinery’s CDU does not just produce PMS. But there is a product that comes out, which is close to PMS because of the requirements and the specifications of what we call octane numbers. You have to produce it to specification. Otherwise, it damages the vehicle. So, the naphtha is further treated.

“It is the treatment of the naphtha using the Crack C5 Indorama that is called blending. So, in all honesty, the refinery is working, and all these products are coming out of the refinery.”

As the Port Harcourt Refinery continues to produce essential petroleum products, it is expected that Nigerians will look forward to a more stable and reliable supply of fuel and a reduction in the country’s dependence on imported products.