The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced a scheduled shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), set to begin on May 24, 2025.

In a statement released on Saturday, Chief Corporate Communications Officer Femi Soneye said the temporary closure is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at optimizing the refinery’s performance.

“The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown,” the statement read. “We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.”

NNPC reassured Nigerians of its continued commitment to national energy security and sustainable operations. The company also promised to provide regular updates via its website, media platforms, and public communications.

This marks another major development in PHRC’s operational timeline, following a similar shutdown in December 2024. That suspension came just months after the refinery resumed operations, following a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project aimed at reviving the country’s refining capacity.