The optimism that followed the recent resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery has quickly waned, leaving Nigerians questioning the facility’s readiness.
Kyari had announced that 200 petrol trucks were being loaded daily, but reports suggest the trucks were filled with old stock—petroleum products stored before the refinery’s shutdown in 2015/2016.
Despite the official inauguration by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, operations at the refinery’s Area 5 terminal appear stalled.
A source within the refinery disclosed that the loaded products were “dead stock” previously stored during the facility’s rehabilitation. These include Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The source explained, “The petrol in storage was off-spec, requiring water separation and further refinement. Additionally, DPK in large quantities remains stored but has not been processed for commercial distribution.”
He added that the tanks need to be cleaned and calibrated before new products can be processed and distributed.
The refinery’s reliance on manual operations has raised concerns. According to the source, “Globally, refineries are operated electronically, but the Port Harcourt Refinery relies on refurbished manual pumps, which cannot match modern digital standards.”
During Kyari’s visit, only seven trucks were prepared for loading, and five were filled with petrol. However, by Friday, no trucks were being loaded, and the loading bay was deserted.
Workers on site cited ongoing de-watering and meter calibration as reasons for the inactivity. “They are de-watering the PMS and calibrating the meters. Maybe loading will resume after that,” one worker said.
A local resident, Osaro, expressed frustration with the situation, calling the refinery’s resumption claims “ceremonial.” He said, “After the fanfare, nothing is happening. The loading is only on paper and social media.”
Dr. Joseph Obelle, spokesperson for the Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), confirmed that calibration was ongoing and expected to be completed soon.
The Senate Committee on Petroleum conducted a facility tour on Thursday. However, the findings from the visit have not been made public.
Meanwhile, the NNPCL dismissed claims that the refinery was non-operational. Spokesperson Olufemi Soneye clarified that the old and new Port Harcourt refineries are integrated, sharing utilities and storage. He urged the public to ignore what he described as “mischievous” allegations.
Despite assurances, the lack of visible progress continues to raise doubts about the readiness of the Port Harcourt Refinery to meet Nigeria’s refining needs.
