Less than a month after the fanfare surrounding the reopening of the Port Harcourt Refinery, operations at the facility have ground to a halt, raising questions about the success of the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project.
According to Saturday Punch, a visit to the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 202revealed that the once-busy loading bay was empty, with no trucks lifting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Reports indicate that the loading of petrol stopped on Friday, December 13, leaving about 18 trucks stranded along the road leading to the refinery and nine others idle in the parking yard.
The usually bustling depot was a shadow of its former self, with no human or vehicular activities related to operations. Security personnel were the most visible presence at the depot, idling around as they guarded the premises.
Truck drivers at the site expressed frustration and uncertainty. One driver revealed, “It was Friday last week they loaded last. About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded till now.” Another driver, speaking in Hausa, mentioned that lifting might resume on Monday but admitted skepticism about the timeline.
The refinery’s re-commissioning on November 26, 2024, was celebrated with much fanfare. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO, Mele Kyari, led the ceremony, which marked the supposed start of the facility’s production at a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day.
The rehabilitation, which began in March 2021, was touted as a significant step towards reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products. During the reopening, a small number of petrol trucks were seen loading at the facility amidst claims of greater capacity. However, allegations surfaced that the products lifted during the inauguration were old stock from storage rather than newly refined products.
Since the reopening, the refinery’s operations have been inconsistent, with stakeholders expressing doubts about its readiness. The Managing Director of the refinery, Ibrahim Onoja, had earlier assured journalists that the facility was fully operational, highlighting the extensive upgrades made to the plant.
Despite these assurances, production has faltered, prompting criticism from stakeholders. A petroleum product marketer, Mr. Dappa Jubobaraye, accused the NNPCL of staging the reopening to deceive Nigerians.
Jubobaraye alleged, “Since Mele Kyari inaugurated the plant, no production has taken place. That day, only about four or five trucks loaded products. The loading meter was not calibrated, and of the 18 loading arms at the bay, only three are functional, and they have leakages.”
He further claimed that the independent marketers had yet to load products from the depot as NNPCL had not fixed prices for tickets. “They are only loading to their mega stations. The situation right now is that loading of PMS is not taking place because they don’t have the intention to make this place work,” he said.
The state of the Port Harcourt Refinery underscores Nigeria’s challenges in revitalizing its downstream sector. Stakeholders have called for greater transparency and accountability regarding the use of the $1.5 billion rehabilitation fund.
As truck drivers and marketers wait for answers, many are left wondering whether the investment in the refinery was worth it. For now, the hopes of many Nigerians for a functional refinery remain in limbo, with the facility’s latest shutdown serving as a stark reminder of the nation’s ongoing struggles in the oil and gas sector.
Experts and industry stakeholders have urged the government to conduct a thorough review of the project and address the underlying issues stifling the refinery’s operations. Without decisive action, the Port Harcourt Refinery risks becoming yet another symbol of Nigeria’s inability to harness its oil wealth for the benefit of its citizens.
