The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has stated that blending during the refining of petroleum products is a standard practice and not a crime.
Speaking at the commissioning of the new seven-story NUPENG Tower in Lagos, Kyari dismissed claims that the Port Harcourt Refinery is not operational. He affirmed that the refinery is functional and currently producing petrol and kerosene.
Kyari clarified ongoing activities at other refineries, including Warri and Kaduna, inviting skeptics to visit the facilities for firsthand verification.
He said, “The repairs of Port Harcourt and other refineries are real. The Port Harcourt refinery is running. As we speak, the plant is running, and loading is going on. Port Harcourt is producing not only petrol but also kerosene. We will shock you with the other refineries. We will not give you a date [for the full resumption of production].”
He further emphasized the importance of blending in refining processes, dismissing criticism of the practice:
“Every refinery blends. There is no refinery where you open a tap and rinse out the gasoline so that it will not blend. There is no crime committed when you blend in a refinery. Requirements differ, and blending is part of the process globally. Every refinery that mixes gasoline involves a mixture of chemicals.”
Kyari’s remarks came in response to comments by human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana. Falana had, during the event, challenged NUPENG and PENGASSAN to provide Nigerians with transparent updates on the state of the nation’s refineries.
Falana raised concerns about the NNPCL’s claims of achieving 90% of the Port Harcourt Refinery’s 60,000bpd capacity, urging the unions to collaborate with other labor organizations to address the hardships faced by Nigerians.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, who commissioned the NUPENG Tower, called for stronger partnerships between the government and unions in the oil and gas sector. He stressed that the sector’s success should reflect in higher production levels and increased revenue for the country.
“The success of the oil and gas sector should be measured by the success of the unions, which would, in turn, benefit Nigerians,” the President noted.
This development highlights ongoing debates about Nigeria’s refining capacity and the NNPCL’s role in addressing energy challenges.
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