Group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, has stated that blending petroleum products at the Port Harcourt refinery is not a crime.
Henzodaily recalls that the refinery commenced crude oil processing on November 26 after several years of being moribund.
The state-owned plant also commenced loading petroleum products for trucks and producing daily outputs of straight-run petrol (naphtha) blended into 1.4 million litres of petrol.
However, some Nigerians who were doubtful about the refinery operation questioned the ongoing blending at the facility when the plant ought to be refining crude.
Speaking at the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos on Wednesday, Kyari said the refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing.
On the controversial issue of blending, Kyari said blending is an integral part of refining, stressing that every refinery blends, which is the specification in the United States of America.
Kyari also invited those in doubt about the refinery’s operation to join him on a tour of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to verify their various statuses.
He said, “If you don’t blend, you will bring out off-spec products which will destroy your vehicles.
“Every refinery blends because what is on the 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.”
Mele Kyari congratulated NUPENG on completing the NUPENG Towers, urging the union to continue prioritising dialogue and cooperation in its relationship with the NNPC and the federal government.