BREAKING: Port Harcourt Refinery Shuts Down After Multibillion-Dollar Rehabilitation

BREAKING: Port Harcourt Refinery Shuts Down After Multibillion-Dollar Rehabilitation

Just a month after the Port Harcourt Refinery appeared to resume operations, reports indicate that the facility has once again halted functioning…READ MORE…

As of Thursday, December 19, 2024, the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, has stopped.

According to The PUNCH, petrol lifting came to a halt on Friday, December 13, when the 18-arm loading bay at the new Port Harcourt refinery was found to be empty.

While about 18 trucks were seen along the busy road leading to the refinery, journalists visiting the site reported that nine trucks were parked within the premises, and the loading bay was devoid of activity. The depot, which is usually bustling with tankers competing for space, was unusually quiet, with minimal vehicular and pedestrian activity.

It’s important to remember that the plant, with a production capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, was inaugurated by Mele Kyari, CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, on November 26, 2024. This event followed the approval and allocation of $1.5 billion in March 2021 for the refinery’s rehabilitation, and it was initially celebrated with enthusiasm as petrol was lifted to the delight of those present. However, reports state that fewer than 10 trucks were actually loaded that day, despite claims of around 200 trucks departing from the bay.

Shortly after Kyari returned to Abuja, operations reportedly reverted to their prior state, with allegations from stakeholders suggesting that the petrol lifted during the inauguration was merely old stock from the storage tank. Three weeks ago, a visit by reporters to the refinery revealed that the loading bay was again empty, with no products being lifted.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria explained that operations had been limited due to the calibration of meters at the loading bay and the need to clear existing stock for new refined products.

Two weeks ago, tanker drivers resumed loading activities, and journalists were given a guided tour of the facility by Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, who claimed that the plant was operational, stating, “We have carried out an extensive revamp of this plant and changed most of the equipment.” Notably, there was an increase in loading activity, with about 11 trucks lifting products shortly thereafter.

However, on the latest visit to the refinery, it was evident that production had halted again, leaving some drivers idling in their trucks. One driver mentioned that petrol lifting was expected to resume the following Monday, though he expressed skepticism about this information.

As operations ground to a halt, security personnel outnumbered workers and visitors, maintaining a presence at various points around the depot. According to another truck driver, “It was last Friday that they loaded about 15 trucks. Since then, not a single truck has been loaded.”

When asked about any explanations for the shutdown, he replied, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information.” A petroleum marketer, Mr. Dappa Jubobaraye, voiced concerns over the condition of the country’s refineries, claiming that no production has occurred since Kyari’s visit, suggesting that the inauguration was merely for show. He argued, “The whole event seemed to be a deception, meant to make it look as if the refinery was operational.”

Jubobaraye highlighted the inefficiencies within the loading bay, stating that out of 18 arms, only three are functional and prone to leaks, leading to minimal operational output. He criticized the delay in independent marketers obtaining product prices necessary for loading.

In conclusion, the current loading of PMS has ceased, raising concerns about the refinery’s operational intentions. As of the time of this report, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has not yet commented on the latest developments.

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