Questions Arise As Port Harcourt Refinery Suspends Loading Operations

Operations at the Port Harcourt Refining Company, which resumed on Tuesday, appear to have paused, with reports of inactivity and...READ MORE…

an empty loading bay.

According to ireporteronline, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Group CEO, Mele Kyari, inaugurated the new facility at the refinery’s Area 5 terminal, claiming that 200 petrol trucks were being loaded daily. However, skepticism arose as reports suggested the trucks were filled with old stock from storage tanks.

During a site visit, Punch reported no signs of activity. Workers indicated that calibration processes—expected to last until next week—were underway. An anonymous official revealed that the loaded trucks contained “dead stock,” or old refined products requiring further processing to meet specifications.

The official explained, “Before the refinery shutdown in 2015/2016, large quantities of refined products, including petrol, kerosene, and diesel, were stored. These products were later evacuated during the refinery’s rehabilitation. The loaded trucks were filled with this old stock, which needs further cleaning and processing before new products can be pumped into the tanks.”

Concerns were also raised about the manual operations at the refinery, with the official noting that globally, refineries use electronic systems for better efficiency. During Kyari’s visit, only five of the seven trucks prepared were loaded with petrol.

While the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Taken Ikpaki, expressed optimism about increased truck activities, the number of trucks dwindled after the ceremony. Workers and drivers were seen idle, with no active machinery.

Responding to the situation, a worker stated, “They are de-watering, removing water from the PMS. Loading might resume after that, but no specific time has been given.”

Local residents and stakeholders expressed frustration, with one resident, Osaro from Alode in Eleme, claiming the reported operations were only visible “on the pages of newspapers and social media.”

Meanwhile, the National Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Joseph Obelle, attributed the downtime to calibration, stating that it would be completed soon.

The development raises questions about the true status of the refinery’s operations and the readiness of its infrastructure for efficient output.

For More Information And News Update, Join Ireporteronline WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaV4jB6DuMRgwqnJCF32 For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 09010649814 on WhatsApp.