The Port Harcourt Refining Company, which recently resumed operations amidst fanfare following a $1.5 billion rehabilitation, has ceased production less than a month after inauguration.
A visit to the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, revealed a halt in the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with the loading bay devoid of activity. Trucks that typically transport products were seen idling, and the previously bustling depot appeared lifeless.
A Celebration Cut Short
The refinery was inaugurated on November 26, 2024, by the CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, who lauded the 60,000 barrels-per-day facility. However, stakeholders now allege that the petrol lifted during the ceremony was merely old stock from storage tanks, rather than newly refined products.
Technical and Logistical Setbacks
Following the inauguration, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria explained that operations were scaled down for meter calibration and de-watering of old stock. Tanker drivers resumed loading briefly two weeks ago, but operations ceased again last week.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that only about 15 trucks were loaded on the last day of operation. Workers and visitors to the facility have dwindled, leaving drivers waiting without updates.
A truck driver, speaking in Hausa, expressed doubt about the resumption of operations, despite claims that loading would restart on Monday. Another driver confirmed that no clear explanation had been given for the stoppage.
Allegations of Mismanagement
Petroleum marketer Dappa Jubobaraye criticized the situation, alleging that the refinery’s inauguration was a publicity stunt. He claimed that since Kyari’s visit, no genuine production had taken place, and operations had been limited to a handful of trucks to create an illusion of functionality.
“Out of the 18 loading arms at the bay, only three are operational, and they have leakages,” Jubobaraye stated. He also pointed out that kerosene and diesel have yet to be loaded, leaving ordinary Nigerians without access to essential products.
Uncertainty Looms
Efforts to reach NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye for clarification were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
The state of the Port Harcourt Refinery raises concerns about the effectiveness of the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project and the broader implications for Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
