Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has addressed concerns over the blending of petroleum products at the recently revived Port Harcourt refinery.
Speaking during the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos, Kyari emphasized that blending is a standard and essential part of refining processes globally.
The Port Harcourt refinery, which resumed operations on November 26 after years of inactivity, has been producing straight-run petrol (naphtha) as part of its output.
This product is subsequently blended to meet the specifications required for Nigerian vehicles, yielding an estimated 1.4 million litres of petrol daily.
Despite the milestone, critics have questioned why blending is taking precedence over full-scale crude oil refining.
In response to these criticisms, Kyari clarified that blending is critical to ensuring the production of on-spec petroleum products.
“Blending is not a crime,” Kyari said. “It is necessary to bring products to the specification of different countries or regions. If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products which will destroy your vehicles.”
Citing global practices, Kyari highlighted that refineries in the United States and other nations also blend to meet regional product specifications.
Prominent figures, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, have expressed doubts about the refinery’s operational capacity.
Kyari countered these doubts by inviting skeptics to tour the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to see firsthand their current status and operations.
The revival of the Port Harcourt refinery is seen as a significant step in reducing Nigeria’s dependency on imported refined products.
With crude oil processing back on track and blending operations underway, Kyari commended the federal government’s interventions in the oil and gas sector.
He highlighted how recent executive orders have spurred increased investments and job creation within the industry.
The commissioning of the NUPENG Towers served as a backdrop to Kyari’s remarks.
Congratulating the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on the successful completion of the project, Kyari called for continued dialogue and cooperation between NNPC, NUPENG, and the government to drive further progress in the sector.
The return to partial operation at the Port Harcourt refinery marks a turning point for Nigeria’s energy sector.
However, questions about the scope and scale of its refining capabilities persist. As blending operations continue, stakeholders will be closely watching to see if the plant can meet the country’s full refining expectations.