Port Harcourt Refinery Functional But Not Loading Products

The Port Harcourt Refinery which resumed operations few days ago is producing but not loading products for public consumption.

An inside source who pleaded anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the loading suspension was due to per litre price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the refinery which was higher than that of Dangote Refinery.

“We are producing, but we are not loading. From what I learnt, it has to do with the pricing of PMS. Our price is higher than that of Dangote and we need to do something about it,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Rental Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has described as rumour, reports making the round that the Port Harcourt Refinery has been shut down.

PETROAN spokesman, Dr. Joseph Obele in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said the refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent.

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The statement reads in part: “The National Headquarters of PETROAN is compelled to set the records straight. We state emphatically that the Old Port Harcourt refinery is functional and producing refined Petroleum products at the moment.

“On Tuesday 26th November 2024, the top Management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) led by Engr. Mele Kyari took stakeholders and journalists to the plant in view of having a 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 is contrary to the speculations that the revamped and celebrated Refinery is a mere blending plant and unproductive as circulated by most naysayer.

“As part of PETROAN’s oversight function as key stakeholders, we have direct access to the plant on the authorisation of management and we will encourage whoever is doubting the functional status of the plant to contact NNPC management for facility tour rather than spreading misleading information.

“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.”