Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said refineries in the country performing below 65 per cent of capacity would be shut down in December, 2015.

Kachikwu, one of the 37 ministerial nominees stated this while responding to questions by some senators during his screening at the Senate on Wednesday in Abuja.

He disclosed that the reality is that functioning refineries were operating at only 25 per cent, contrary to reports that they were doing well.
He said that it was not enough for a refinery to produce at 65 per cent today and at zero per cent the next day, stressing that anytime crude was not utilised by a refinery, the government lost money.

On recurring scarcity of petroleum products, especially petrol and kerosene, Kachikwu said that the situation would continue unless the refineries performed optimally.
“Performance levels are about 25 and 26 per cent; it is not enough to do 65 per cent one day and do zero per cent the next day. We have started a policy of not giving crude to any refinery that is not producing. Port Harcourt refinery is producing at over 60 per cent and we want to drive it to 80 by December.

“Warri Refinery has indicated that it will soon come on stream; we will begin to pump crude to Kaduna Refinery by tomorrow (Thursday) and by the next five days, we will know if they will produce above 65 per cent. Any refinery that does not produce up to 60 per cent is not into production, and at the end of December, we will only allow those who perform optimally. Those that do not, we will shut them down,” he said.

Credit: NAN