The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced a planned shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company starting May 24, 2025. This move comes months after a $1.5 billion rehabilitation aimed at reviving the long-dormant facility. The shutdown is reportedly for maintenance and to improve the plant’s long-term efficiency.
The refinery, which briefly resumed operations in late 2024, shut down again within weeks, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the rehabilitation project. Despite the massive investment, full-scale production has remained elusive.
Stakeholders and critics are now questioning the viability of the refinery and the accountability of the project, as the country continues to grapple with its refining challenges and dependency on fuel imports.
