The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, on Tuesday confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is still operational, contrary to claims of a complete shutdown.
Osifo stated that although the refinery is operational, it was not designed to produce aviation fuel but rather three principal products namely Naphtha, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).
He emphasized that no refinery in the world produces PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) in a single tranche, explaining that the process of producing PMS involves blending Naphtha with Crack C5 or other products to meet the required specifications.
He said based on checks by PENGASSAN, the Port Harcourt refinery is operational, but Nigerians need to understand the modalities of operation.
Osifo said, ‘There is no refinery in the world that has a CDU that produces PMS in one 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.
“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.
“You have to produce it in specification. Otherwise, it damages the vehicle. So, the Naphtha is further treated.
“As we speak, the unit is working, but the Old Port Harcourt refinery was not designed to produce aviation fuel.”
Osifo explained further that Naphtha must be passed into what they call the Reforming Unit through a process of blending.
“It is the treating of the Naphtha using the Crack C5 from Indorama is what they call blending. So, in all honesty, the refinery is working, and all these products are coming out of the refinery.”
Osifo reiterated that the unit is in operation, adding that it is important Nigerians are informed of this development.
Assuring Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment to meeting their PMS needs, the PENGASSAN boss said, “What is now happening is that the Naphtha is being blended with Crack C5 for processing so that it can give us PMS”.
According to him, “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” he said on Arise TV