The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has clarified that its operations, recently scaled down for technical upgrades, have resumed, with refined products now being distributed. However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised concerns about fuel pricing, warning it would not purchase petrol from the refinery if priced higher than other sources.
Reports surfaced that petrol from the facility was being sold at N1,030 per liter, significantly higher than the rate offered by the Dangote Refinery. While the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) denied the claims, it has yet to disclose the official price of petrol from the Port Harcourt refinery.
Ongoing Operations at the Refinery
During a facility tour, PHRC Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja assured that product distribution, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), kerosene, and diesel, is underway, with over 10 trucks dispatched daily. Despite the progress, low turnout from tanker drivers has slowed evacuation efforts.
Executive Director of Operations, Moyi Maidunama, explained that operations were scaled down to address technical hitches and enhance capacity, but distribution remains active.
Marketers and Stakeholders React
IPMAN Spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike criticized the alleged high pricing and called for affordability, suggesting independent marketers would source fuel elsewhere if prices remain prohibitive.
Meanwhile, the Crude Oil Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) advocated for cheaper blended petrol, citing concerns about long-term sustainability and environmental impact. CORAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, explained that blending naphtha with cracked C5—currently being done at the refinery—could reduce production costs but warned of potential issues with quality and compliance with international standards.
Energy Consultant Henry Adigun estimated that the refinery’s blended petrol should be priced between N860 and N870 per liter, highlighting the facility’s current limitations in producing direct-use petrol without blending.
NNPCL Promises Price Review
NNPCL stated it has not yet commenced external sales of petrol from the Port Harcourt refinery, noting that the products are currently reserved for its retail outlets. Spokesperson Olufemi Soneye assured that pricing will be periodically reviewed to reflect operational realities.
The refinery’s gradual return to operations follows significant upgrades aimed at enhancing efficiency, though questions remain about pricing, sustainability, and the facility’s ability to meet national fuel demands.
