The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has disclosed that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown commencing on May 24, 2025. According to the nation’s oil company, the scheduled interruption is a routine maintenance and sustainability assessment of the 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) plant.

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer OF NNPC Ltd., revealed the above interruption of operations of the plant on the official Twitter handle of the corporation without further details of the duration of the shutdown and including affected sections of the plant maintenance.

“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure that the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently. NNPC Ltd. remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security for Nigeria,” Mr. Soneye stated on behalf of the corporation.

The shutdown of Port Harcourt Refinery is coming barely few day after a facility tour of the plant was undertook by the Chairman of the Board of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), who is also the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr. Udy Ntia in the company of the Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr. Mumuni Dagazau.

The true operational state of the refinery has been shrouded in a lot of skepticism during the last lap of the former NNPC GCEO, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, ever since the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. announced achieving the mechanical completion of rehabilitation work on Area 5 Plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).

Before the said mechanical completion work in December 2023, rehabilitation work had been ongoing at the Refinery for over two years, and the NNPCL had pledged to complete Phase One of the project (mechanical completion and flare start-up) of Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5) by 31 December 2023.

The planned maintenance shutdown might be unconnected to the widespread skepticism in certain quarters concerning the refinery’s true operational position. According to Mr. Soneye, further updates on the planned maintenance shutdown will be provided regularly through the corporation’s official channels, including its website, media platforms, and public statements.