Top sources at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have insisted that the reopened Port-Harcourt Refinery’s blending of “Crack C5 with the Naphtha” as Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, would have an “effect” on vehicles.
The NNPCL insiders gave the warning while confirming to SaharaReporters that the secondary units of the NNPCL Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State are yet to start working and are yet to be commissioned.
The sources clarified to SaharaReporters on Wednesday that the NNPCL came up with the idea of blending Crack C5 with the Naphtha from the primary units because the secondary units are not ready yet.
The source said that though blending is a standard practice and that PMS is a blend of products, “but the blended products are reformate. Gasoline is produced from the secondary units of the process plant. These secondary units are yet to be commissioned.”
According to the NNPCL sources, “Right now it is only the primary units that are on; that is what processes the crude to intermediate products with the exception of three finished products which are Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Kerosene and diesel.
“PMS which is a blend of products is gotten from the secondary units. Because the secondary units are not ready, that is why the idea of blending Crack C5 with the Naphtha from the primary units. Crack C5 has an effect on cars.”
SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that NNPCL confirmed its exclusive reports that only the old Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State is working and that the refinery is not trucking out PMS but blended gasoline.
The NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement said that the old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, and that it produces Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha), blended into 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol daily.
SaharaReporters had reported that top sources in the know of the operation of the refinery revealed to SaharaReporters that NNPCL was not trucking out PMS from the Port Harcourt Refinery as the company claimed on Tuesday.
SaharaReporters had been informed that the NNPCL instead bought “Cracked C5 petroleum resins” and blended it with other products including Naphtha to sell to the Nigerian public as though the refinery processed it.
Top sources familiar with the activities of the company and the state of the refinery had also told SaharaReporters that the claim of trucking out PMS from the reopened refinery was a lie.
The sources had earlier said, “The plant is running but it is the old one of 60,000bpd capacity but you can’t get PMS from it except diesel. The part that produces PMS is yet to start.”
Speaking further with SaharaReporters, a top source in the refinery had said, “If you hear they are trucking out PMS from the depot, know it is a lie. They bought Crack C5 from Indorama company in Port Harcourt and blended it with Naphtha to sell to the public.”
The source added, “Cracked 5 is modified petroleum resins.”
Confirming SaharaReporters’ stories, Soneye in a statement on Tuesday evening, said, “The Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) express heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians for their support and excitement over the safe and successful restart of the 60,000 barrels-per-day Old Port Harcourt Refinery.
“This achievement marks a significant step forward after years of operational challenges and underperformance.
“We are, however, aware of unfounded claims by certain individuals suggesting that the refinery is not producing products.
“For clarity, the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90%. The refinery is producing the following daily outputs:
“Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha): Blended into 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol); Kerosene: 900,000 liters; Automotive Gas Oil (AGO or Diesel): 1.5 million liters; Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO): 2.1 million liters; Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Additional volumes.”
Soneye had added, “It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications.
“Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes.
“Additionally, we have made substantial progress on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which will begin operations soon without prior announcements.”
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SAHARA REPORTERS
