The National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is operational, contrary to claims by critics.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Osifo stated that the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) was 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 stated that it is producing other essential products.
“For us in PENGASSAN, this is part of what we are going to address tomorrow (Tuesday) during our National Executive Council meeting. 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 bring out different products.”
He noted that while the Reformating 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. But the Old Port Harcourt refinery was not designed to produce aviation fuel. So, we are going to have three principal products, which are Naphtha, AGO, and the DPK, coming out from the refinery.
“The Naptha is to be passed into what they call the Reformating 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 to ask 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 tranche 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 once single tranche. 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 requirement and the specification of what we call octane numbers. You have to produce it in specification. Otherwise, it damages the vehicle. So, the naphtha is further treated.
“It is the treating of the Naphtha. Using the crack C5 indorama is what they call blending. So, in all honesty, the refinery is working, and all these products are coming out of the refinery.”
As the Port Harcourt Refinery to produce essential petroleum products, it is expected that Nigerians look forward to a more stable and reliable supply of fuel, and a reduction in the country’s dependence on imported products.
