The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is now operational and selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at N1,030 per litre.
This announcement, made on Thursday evening, follows a series of claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding the refinery’s rehabilitation and performance.
In a statement, PETROAN’s spokesperson, Joseph Obele, disclosed that NNPC Retail Limited has officially communicated the new price for PMS at the refurbished Port Harcourt facility, adding that the product request portal is now open for bookings.
Obele emphasized the ongoing analysis by PETROAN’s strategic pricing team to determine the most favorable pricing for its members, noting, “We are open to patronizing all refineries in Nigeria.”
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Despite concerns raised by some critics about the refinery’s operational status, Obele vehemently defended the functionality of the old Port Harcourt refinery.
“We state emphatically that the old Port Harcourt refinery is functional and producing refined petroleum products at the moment,” he said.
On November 26, 2024, NNPC’s top management, led by Mele Kyari, took stakeholders and journalists on a tour of the refinery to provide first-hand information. According to Obele, the old refinery is currently operating at 70 percent of its installed capacity, with plans to increase production to 90 percent.
The claims come as a response to allegations that the refinery is merely a blending plant and not truly operational.
However, Obele reassured the public, urging those doubting the refinery’s capabilities to visit the facility, which is still producing petroleum products.
“It is important to clarify that the functional plant in operation is the old refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, while the new Port Harcourt refinery, which has a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, is still under rehabilitation and set to commence production soon,” he clarified.
PETROAN also disclosed that the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources recently conducted a fact-finding visit to the site, affirming the refinery’s operational status.
The committee, along with stakeholders and members of the host community, witnessed petroleum trucks loading at the Port Harcourt refinery depot.
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As the country approaches the festive season, PETROAN has called for further price reductions, urging NNPC Retail to lower prices to bring joy to Nigerians during the Yuletide. This comes shortly after Dangote Refinery announced a N20 reduction, setting its price at N970 per litre, down from N990.
In a related matter, PETROAN has also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the Eleme East-West road, which poses a serious threat to the safety of petroleum trucks transporting refined products from the refinery.
The association has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite repairs on the road to ensure safe transportation of petroleum products.
