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Kyari defends PH Refinery operations, says blending Is essential, not a crime
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has addressed concerns about the blending of petroleum products at the recently revived Port Harcourt refinery, stating that the practice is a standard part of refining operations.
Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos, Kyari emphasized that blending is not only legitimate but also necessary to ensure the production of quality petroleum products.
“If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products which will destroy your vehicles,” he explained. “Every refinery blends because what is on specification in the United States of America will be off-spec in Nigeria and elsewhere. Blending is necessary to bring products to the specification of different countries or regions.”
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The Port Harcourt refinery resumed crude oil processing on November 26 after years of inactivity. The state-owned facility has also started loading petroleum products for distribution by trucks. According to the NNPC, the refinery currently produces straight-run petrol (naphtha), which is blended into 1.4 million liters of petrol daily.
Some Nigerians have criticized the blending process, arguing that the refinery should be fully refining crude oil. In response to skeptics, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, Kyari extended an invitation to tour the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to witness their operations firsthand.
Kyari praised the successful completion of the NUPENG Towers, urging the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to maintain a cooperative relationship with the NNPC and the federal government.
He also highlighted the impact of executive orders issued by President Bola Tinubu in revitalizing the oil and gas sector. “The president’s interventions are yielding positive results, with more investments coming in and prospects of more jobs in the industry,” Kyari said.
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