Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has defended the blending of petroleum products at the recently reactivated Port Harcourt refinery, describing it as a standard industry practice.
Speaking on Wednesday at the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos, Kyari highlighted the progress made at the refinery, which recently resumed crude oil processing after years of inactivity. According to Kyari, the facility is now operational, with loading activities ongoing and production of straight-run petrol (naphtha) contributing to 1.4 million litres of blended petrol daily.
Some Nigerians, however, have expressed concerns about blending at the refinery instead of direct crude refining. Addressing the skepticism, Kyari clarified that blending is an integral part of the refining process globally.
He explained,“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.”
Kyari also responded to critics, including prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, by inviting them to personally inspect the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to verify their operational status.
The GCEO used the occasion to congratulate NUPENG on the successful completion of the NUPENG Towers, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the union, NNPC, and the federal government.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu’s interventions in the oil and gas sector, noting that executive orders have spurred increased investments and created job opportunities within the industry.
