The Port Harcourt Refining Company is scheduled to shut down soon for a maintenance exercise expected to last about 30 days, sources confirmed.
While the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) stated the refinery remained operational as of Friday, some fuel retailers claimed it was shut down on Thursday night.Fuel retailers in Eleme and Okrika, the host communities of the refinery, expressed strong opposition to the shutdown.
They accused the refinery coordinator, Engr. Bayo Adenrele, of acting in the interests of a private refinery to deliberately cripple the Port Harcourt facility. In a joint statement, the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers warned the shutdown would increase fuel prices and worsen Nigeria’s economic challenges.
“We are compelled to expose the sinister actions of the refinery coordinator, who is acting as an agent of a private refinery… His actions are deliberately designed to cripple the Port Harcourt refinery, denying it crude oil and shutting it down,” the statement read.
The retailers further accused Engr. Bayo of ignoring community rights and benefits during the refinery’s rehabilitation, and threatened to hold him responsible if a fuel crisis ensued.Responding to the allegations, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, denied sabotage claims.
He said, “The refinery remains fully operational. However, we are preparing to undertake a scheduled critical safety maintenance exercise… This maintenance activity… is expected to last approximately one month. To ensure uninterrupted supply, we have adequate volumes of AGO, kerosene, and other products.”
The host community group also called for the immediate appointment of a substantive Managing Director to bring stability and urged top government officials, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Senate President, to intervene.
Recent reports showed the refinery was operating below 40 percent capacity, and marketers confirmed it was not yet optimally producing petrol but mainly naphtha.
Meanwhile, the NNPC highlighted the refinery’s progress, stating it currently produces a blend of petrol and other products, with plans to ramp up output soon.The maintenance is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the refinery’s safe and sustainable operation, according to NNPC.
