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Barely a month after the Port Harcourt Refinery seemingly resumed operations, the facility reportedly ceased functioning.
Naija News understands that lifting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol or fuel, had stopped as of Thursday, December 19, 2024.
According to The PUNCH, the cessation of petrol lifting particularly occurred on Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was found to be vacant.
While approximately 18 trucks were observed along the busy road leading to the refinery, journalists who visited the refinery noted that nine trucks were parked within the yard, and the loading bay remained empty.
The depot, typically bustling with activity as tankers vie for space in the parking area, was notably quiet, with virtually no vehicular or human activity related to operations.
It is worth recalling that the inauguration of the plant, which has a production capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, was conducted by Mele Kyari, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
This event was celebrated with much enthusiasm following the approval and expenditure of $1.5 billion in March 2021 for the facility’s rehabilitation.
During the reopening, petrol was lifted to the delight of the gathered crowd; however, reports indicate that fewer than 10 trucks of petrol were actually lifted that day, contrary to claims that approximately 200 trucks had departed from the bay.
Furthermore, our correspondent noted that shortly after Kyari’s return to Abuja, operations reverted to their previous state amid allegations from stakeholders suggesting that the petrol lifted during the inauguration was merely old stock from the storage tank.
Three weeks prior, when newsmen conducted an initial visit to the refinery, it was observed that the loading bay was unoccupied, with no products being lifted.
In light of this observation, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria explained that operations had been reduced due to the calibration of meters at the loading bay and the de-watering of existing stock, which needed to be cleared to allow for the reception of newly refined products.
Two weeks ago, tanker drivers returned and resumed loading activities.
Additionally, journalists were provided with a guided tour of the refinery, which was led by its Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja.
Onoja stated, “The plant is running and we are trucking out our products. We have carried out an extensive revamp of this plant and changed most of the equipment.
“The pump and instrumentation, the cables are all brand new. So what we have done here is massive change and upgrade of the plant.”
Afterwards, there was marked improvement as about 11 trucks lifted products, even as it was better the next day.
Again, Port Harcourt Refinery Shuts Down Operation
From the most recent visit to the refinery, however, it was discovered that production activities had ceased again a week prior.
Naija News learnt that seemingly idle drivers were observed resting in their trucks.
One driver who communicated to journalists in the Hausa language mentioned that petrol lifting is expected to be recommenced next Monday.
However, he doubted the information as he counted the number of days with his fingers and muttered, “Three days; they said they would load on Monday.”
The number of workers and visitors could easily be counted as there were more security men clad in black trousers and blue shirts.
The guards were stationed at the entrance of the depot and the loading bay, as well as inside the loading bay itself. They kept themselves busy as they chatted away.
“It was Friday last week they loaded last. About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded,” the PUNCH quoted another truck driver.
When asked if any explanation was given, he replied, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information or telling us anything. Some trucks that were here have left. I’m just here because my director said I should wait a bit.”
A petroleum product marketer, Mr. Dappa Jubobaraye, has expressed his concerns regarding the condition of the country’s refineries. He claimed that since the plant’s inauguration by Kyari, there has been no production, emphasizing that the entire event appeared to be merely a spectacle.
He stated, “It was intended to deceive Nigerians that the refinery is working and that is why they came up with that show. That day, only about four or five trucks loaded products.
“The loading meter was not calibrated yet before they started operation. Of the 18 loading arms at the bay only three are working and they have leakages. So, they have been trying to load three, four, five trucks, sometimes 10 just to show that they are working while they are not working.
“Since Mele Kyari came and left, the independent marketers have yet to load products from this depot because the NNPC is yet to fix prices for them to buy tickets and start loading products. They are only loading them to their own mega stations.
“The situation right now is that loading of PMS is not taking place because they don’t have the intention to make this place work. It is just to deceive the people.
“If you come into this place (depot), you will see trucks packed and think that loading is on; but the truth is that they are not working. Some tanker drivers have gone because they can’t come and waste time here.”
He continued, “How can you come here with the hope of loading and you stay here with your truck for two weeks, for what? Before the work stopped last week, they were loading up to 10, 15 but below 20.
“Ordinary one of the arms in the loading bay can load up to 20 to 30 trucks in a day. But for now, they are using only three arms out of the 18 loading arms inside the bay and the three are just for PMS alone. They have not started loading DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel). And kerosene is what concerns the ordinary more.”
However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has yet to respond to the latest development as of the time of filing this report.
