The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners of Nigeria have described untrue claims being made in some quarters that the Port Harcourt Refinery is not functional and not producing petroleum products.
The National PETROAN National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele dismissed the claims in a statement issued on Friday.
There had been claims made by the Secretary of the Alesa community stakeholders, Timothy Mgbere, alleging that the petroleum products loaded from the newly rehabilitated Port-Harcourt Refinery were not freshly refined but products left in the storage tank of the facility in the last three years.
He also alleged that the refinery only loaded six trucks on Tuesday despite stating that 200 trucks would be picked up from the refinery daily.
But setting the records straight, Obele emphatically stated that the Old Port Harcourt refinery is functional and produces refined Petroleum products.
He said, “On Tuesday 26th November 2024, The top Management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited led by Engr Mele Kyari took stakeholders and journalists to the plant in view of having first-hand information and to see things themselves.
“The old Port Harcourt refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent. This contradicts the speculations that the revamped and celebrated Refinery is a mere blending plant and unproductive as circulated by most naysayers.”
As part of PETROAN’s oversight function as key stakeholders, he said the organization has direct access to the plant on the authorization of management and encouraged whoever is doubting the functional status of the plant to contact NNPC management for a facility tour rather than spreading misleading information.
It added, ” It is more important to state here that the functional plant at operation is the old refinery with the capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, while the new port Harcourt refinery with the capacity of 200,000 barrels per day is still under rehabilitation which is due to commence production soon as announced by the management of NNPCL.
“Both Refineries are within the same complex at Alesa Eleme in Rivers State The old Port Harcourt refinery which was built in the year 1965 stopped production over 21 years ago, while the new Port Harcourt refinery stopped production in the year 2019.
“Further confirmation for the authenticity of production at the Port Harcourt refinery was verified by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources under the able leadership of Distinguished Sen. S A Kawu Sumaila, in conjunction with stakeholders and members of the host community.
“The Senate Committee was on fact-finding/investigation on Thursday 28th November 2024 at the Port Harcourt refinery and depot at Alesa Eleme to see things themselves. The senate committee saw the plant functional and Petroleum trucks loading at the Port Harcourt refinery depot.
“It is worth noting that PETROAN National leadership led by the National President Dr Billy Hary were in attendance at the senate committee visitation at the Port Harcourt refinery to welcome the committee and express PETROAN’S willingness to commence loading at the Port Harcourt refinery. “
PETROAN in the statement noted that rather than attacking the NNPC, the appropriate thing at the moment is to commend the team of NNPCL management led by Kyari that was able to revive a plant that has been moribund, deplorable and dormant for over 21 years.
The statement added, “PETROAN now appraise the scorecard of Engr Mele Kyari as Excellent performance for the reviving a refinery plant which was abandoned for 21 years when he wasn’t the NNPC boss PETROAN is optimistic that the Nigeria vision is achievable and now call on Nigerians to be patriotic by believing in the renewed hope agenda of Mr President. Nigeria will work again.”
Regarding the price, he said NNPC Retail Ltd has officially announced the PMS price at the Port Harcourt refinery as N1,030 per litre.
The NNPC. he noted has also communicated to PETROAN that the product request portal was open for booking /request, adding that PETROAN’s strategic pricing team are currently analysing the most favourable price for its members as it is open to patronising all the refineries in Nigeria.
“PETROAN also employs that NNPC Retail Ltd should further reduce the price in view of giving Nigerians a blissful Yuletide celebration.
“Finally, PETROAN supports the proposed planned Privatisation of the nation-owned refineries in a no-distance time in such a manner that is credible and transparent after which the plant should be handled over to a reputable private firm with the financial capability and technical knowledge,” he added in the statement.
PH Refinery Functional, Producing Petroleum Products, PETROAN Dismisses Misleading Claims is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
