The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Festus Osifo, has asserted that the Port Harcourt Refinery is active and generating essential petroleum products, refuting allegations of its closure.
In a statement on Tuesday, Osifo emphasized that the refinery generates Naphtha, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), but is not intended for the production of aviation fuel.
He clarified that no refinery anywhere in the world creates Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in one step; rather, PMS is obtained via blending methods.
“No refinery globally has a Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) that produces PMS in a single batch.” “Osifo mentioned that even the CDU of Dangote Refinery does not solely generate PMS.”
He explained that the creation of PMS includes mixing Naphtha with Crack C5 or other substances to conform to specification requirements, especially octane ratings.
He explained the procedure by saying, “In the production of petroleum products, crude oil is processed through the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), which yields various outputs. It must be made according to specifications; if not, it harms the vehicle. Thus, the Naphtha undergoes additional processing.
Osifo highlighted that the operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery are continuing.
“While we talk, the unit is operating, but the Old Port Harcourt Refinery was not intended for the production of aviation fuel,” he noted.
He emphasized the significance of integration in PMS production: “Naphtha is routed into the Reforming Unit and processed with Crack C5 from Indorama. This mixing procedure is what leads to PMS.”
Assuring Nigerians, Osifo stated, “The refinery is operational, and all these products, AGO, kerosene, and PMS are being manufactured. “We ought to concentrate on the results instead of the technical methods.”
He stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting Nigeria’s PMS needs, noting, “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.”