The leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited embarked on an inspection visit to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Port Harcourt Refining Company, as part of efforts to ascertain the level of work done and ensure operational effectiveness of its refineries.
The NNPCL Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr Mumuni Dagazau, and the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, conducted the inspection tours across both refineries.
The NNPCL disclosed this in a post on its social media platforms on Sunday in Abuja. This development comes against the backdrop of the recent sacking of the
Managing directors of the three refineries under the purview of NNPCL.
The refineries include the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
The ex-Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd is Mr Ibrahim Onoja. Mustafa Sugungun is the MD, KRPC, while Efifia Chu served as the ex-Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd.
The national oil firm came under public scrutiny after documents revealed that the Warri refinery closed its operations less than one month after recent repairs due to safety concerns.
The Port Harcourt refinery, on the other hand, has been operating below 40 per cent of its capacity since its widely celebrated revamp.
At the Kaduna refinery, the social media post said the visit was to assess work progress on the ongoing Quick Fix project at the refinery.
During the tour of the facility, the NNPC executive expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far. He also commended the dedication of the staff, describing their support as crucial to the success of the ongoing rehabilitation.
It read, “Last week, our Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr Mumuni Dagazau, paid an inspection visit to the Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company, where he assessed work progress on the ongoing Quick Fix project at the refinery.
“Shortly after undertaking a tour of the plant, the EVP, who expressed satisfaction with work progress, also commended the workers for their tremendous support of the Quick Fix project.”
The Kaduna refinery, one of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, has a nameplate capacity of 110,000 barrels per day but has not processed crude oil in over a decade. The facility is undergoing phased rehabilitation under the NNPC’s broader plan to revamp Nigeria’s downstream sector.
The Quick Fix project, which targets functional restoration of key units ahead of full-scale rehabilitation, is part of a strategy to fast-track the return of local refining before the completion of longer-term overhaul works.
The Federal Government, through NNPC Ltd, had in 2021 announced a $1.5bn comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the country’s refineries, starting with the Port Harcourt Refinery.
At the 210,000 barrels per day PH refinery, the board Chairman. Ntia, who also serves as the EVP, Upstream, was accompanied by the EVP Downstream, Mr Mumuni Dagazau.
The post read, “Earlier today, the Chairman of the Board of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, who is also the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, accompanied by the Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr. Mumuni Dagazau, undertook a facility tour of the Port Harcourt Refining Company.”
Meanwhile, images from the tour reviewed by our correspondent revealed that none of the former Managing Directors of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries participated in the inspection.
Their absence has further fuelled speculations that the three refinery heads may have been relieved of their duties, following recent shake-ups under the current NNPC leadership.
