Operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery have reportedly ceased less than a month after the long-anticipated rehabilitation project was declared complete, raising fresh concerns about the facility’s reliability.
A member of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), who requested anonymity, disclosed the development to The Mandate News on Saturday. According to the source, petrol lifting activities at the refinery were suspended as of December 13, 2024.
He revealed that tanker drivers stationed at the refinery’s 18-arm loading bay have been on standby, awaiting directives. The source expressed cautious optimism that production and petrol lifting may resume by Monday, December 23, 2024.
“I can confirm that there has been no petrol lifting from the plant since December 13. Tanker drivers remain at the loading bay, hoping that operations will resume by Monday,” he stated.
Efforts to obtain official clarification from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) were met with silence. NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, did not respond to inquiries as of Saturday morning.
The latest operational setback follows NNPC’s announcement on November 26, 2024, that petrol lifting had commenced at the Port Harcourt refinery. This marked a significant milestone after the facility underwent a $1.5 billion rehabilitation, a project approved in 2021.
The recommencement of operations was met with mixed reactions. While some hailed it as a step toward reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, others questioned the project’s transparency and long-term sustainability.
At the time of the announcement, NNPC reported that over 200 trucks had loaded petrol from the refinery. However, conflicting accounts emerged, with sources alleging that only 10 trucks were loaded during the inauguration.
Speculation further intensified with claims that the petrol lifted on the inauguration day was part of old stock, rather than fresh production. NNPC swiftly dismissed the assertions, reiterating the refinery’s operational capacity and readiness to sustain production.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, one of Nigeria’s critical refining assets, has faced prolonged operational challenges, with successive rehabilitation projects failing to deliver sustained productivity.
Industry stakeholders now await further clarification from NNPC regarding the refinery’s latest setback and the steps being taken to ensure stable operations moving forward.
