Port Harcourt Refinery Not Producing Petrol Previous to Shutdown – Entrepreneurs
The Impartial Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (IPMAN) has stated the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted (NNPCL) needed to shut down the Port Harcourt Refining Firm to save lots of its face.
IPMAN stated the ability’s shutdown is insignificant to the Nigerian petrol market, stressing that the plant didn’t produce petrol for about three months earlier than its eventual shutdown.
The Petroleum Merchandise Retail Outlet House owners Affiliation of Nigeria argued that the ability will likely be of no worth with out the Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) mixing unit, including that 30 days is not going to be sufficient to finish the restore train.
In an interview with PUNCH, IPMAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, argued that the refinery had not produced any gasoline prior to now few months, questioning why the NNPC was simply asserting a shutdown now.
It was earlier reported that the NNPC introduced the shutdown of the plant on Saturday. The power could be shut down for a month for upkeep. In line with the NNPC Chief Company Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, the shutdown commenced on Saturday, Might 24.
Soneye stated, “NNPC Ltd needs to tell most people that the Port Harcourt Refining Firm will bear a deliberate upkeep shutdown. This scheduled upkeep and sustainability evaluation will begin on Might 24, 2025.” He added that the corporate was working with related stakeholders to make sure effectivity and transparency throughout the train.
Learn Additionally:
Responding, Ukadike maintained that the 60,000-barrel-capacity refinery has not produced petrol prior to now few months after it was declared operational in November. In line with the IPMAN chief, the brand new management of the NNPC must have ordered an entire overhaul of the ability, saying the announcement of a shutdown was simply to save lots of face.
Ukadike said, “For all nowadays, we have now been shopping for petrol from the Dangote Refinery, and a few others are importing. The shutdown of the Port Harcourt is insignificant. It doesn’t have an effect on anyone. The refinery has been down for years earlier than it was rehabilitated and reopened final yr; now, they’re shutting it down once more.”
He additional questioned the timing of the shutdown, saying, “Meaning one thing is incorrect. To the perfect of my data, the refinery has not been producing something prior to now three months. This shutdown is simply to save lots of their face.”
On Saturday, the spokesperson of the Petroleum Merchandise Retail Outlet House owners Affiliation of Nigeria, Joseph Obele, insisted that the refinery had been shut down since Thursday. He feared that the shutdown would possibly result in job losses and gasoline shortage.
In a press release on Sunday, PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry expressed issues over the event. In line with him, although the refinery’s shutdown for upkeep is anticipated, the affiliation desires the NNPC to stick to the scheduled 30-day restore timeline to minimise disruptions to petroleum product provide.
Gillis-Harry stated, “PETROAN fears that the 30-day schedule won’t be lifelike resulting from ordinary bottlenecks, doubtlessly resulting in additional delays and exacerbating provide challenges.” He demanded the inclusion of a PMS mixing unit within the upkeep exercise and well timed completion of the work.
The PETROAN president additionally really helpful that the Minister of Petroleum arrange a activity pressure comprising all petroleum trade stakeholders to watch the 30-day repairs and guarantee transparency and accountability.
In the meantime, NNPC spokesperson Soneye had earlier debunked claims of sabotage, saying the upkeep would make sure the protected and sustainable operation of the refinery.
