NNPCL has announced a planned maintenance shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company starting May 24, 2025. According to spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, the closure is part of efforts to ensure the refinery’s optimal performance and long-term sustainability.NNPCL confirmed that the Port Harcourt refinery’s scheduled maintenance will begin on May 24, 2025, in collaboration with stakeholders like the NMDPRA.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to energy security and promised regular updates through official channels.Soneye clarified that the Port Harcourt refinery has been operational for a year and the current maintenance is a routine procedure, not a shutdown due to failure or disruption.In December 2024, NNPC Ltd announced the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed production after years of rehabilitation, with truck loading of petroleum products starting on November 26, 2024.
The refinery has two units, totaling 210,000 barrels per day capacity. It was shut down in March 2019 for repairs, with Italian firm Maire Tecnimont overseeing rehabilitation and Eni as technical adviser. The project began after a $1.5 billion approval by the Federal Executive Council in 2021.On December 21, 2023, the Nigerian government announced the refinery’s mechanical completion and successful flare start-off, marking a major step toward full operation.
