NNPC invites Femi Fálànà, others to Port Harcourt refinery to ascertain production claim

In the bid to establish the claim that the Port Harcourt refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has invited Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and other critics for a tour of the facility.

In a statement released by the company's spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye on Wednesday, the company’s group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, made the pronouncement  while addressing the controversy around products blending at Port Harcourt, stating that blending as it is an integral part of the refining process is not a crime.

According to him, “If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products, which will destroy your vehicles. 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,” adding that the President’s interventions in the oil and gas industry by way of executive orders were yielding positive results, with more investments coming in and prospects of more jobs in the industry.

The announcement by NNPC last week Tuesday on the commencement of crude processing and truckout of petroleum products at Port Harcourt after years of rehabilitation sparked several speculations on its viability and authenticity.