Port Harcourt Refinery Allegedly Stops Operation, NNPC Denies Shutdown
Reports have surfaced indicating that the state-owned Port Harcourt Refinery has ceased operations less than a month after its much-celebrated rehabilitation.
A member of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), speaking anonymously to DAILY POST on Saturday, confirmed that petrol lifting activities at the refinery halted on December 13, 2024. However, there is optimism that production may resume by Monday, December 23.
“I can confirm to you that there has been no petrol lifting activity at the plant since last week, 13th December. Tanker drivers are at the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery waiting until Monday. Maybe petrol lifting will recommence,” the source revealed.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Olufemi Soneye, earlier on Saturday morning for clarification yielded no immediate response.
Background
The Port Harcourt Refinery resumed operations on November 26, 2024, after a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project approved in 2021. The NNPC announced that over 200 trucks loaded petrol from the facility on its first day back in operation, though skeptics claimed only 10 trucks were loaded, with allegations that the products were old stock.
The refinery’s rehabilitation was met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a step forward and others questioning its sustainability and long-term efficiency.
NNPC Denies Shutdown
Responding to the shutdown claims later on Saturday, Soneye issued a statement debunking the reports.
“The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, which was re-streamed two months ago, has been shut down.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false, as the refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.
“Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.
“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip off Nigerians,” the statement read.
Uncertainty Persists
Despite the NNPC’s reassurances, the pause in petrol lifting and claims from industry insiders have sparked concerns about the refinery’s reliability. As the situation unfolds, all eyes remain on Monday, December 23, to see if operations resume as anticipated.
