Port Harcourt Refinery which resumed operations a few days ago is producing but not loading products for public consumption, LEADERSHIP Sunday findings have shown.
An insider who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the loading suspension was due to the litre price of petrol from the refinery which is 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 that the refinery had been shut down.
PETROAN spokesman, Dr. Joseph Obele in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the refinery was operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent.
The statement said; “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.”
