Less than a month after its highly publicized reopening following a $1.5 billion rehabilitation, operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery have come to a standstill.
AFRIPOST gathered that by Thursday, December 19, 2024, activities at the refinery had ceased entirely, with no petrol being loaded since Friday, December 13.
The refinery’s once-busy loading bay, designed to accommodate 18 trucks at a time, now lies deserted.
While a few trucks were spotted parked along the road and in the yard, there was no sign of loading operations—a stark contrast to the fanfare surrounding the refinery’s reopening in November.
At the time, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari announced that the facility was ready to refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
However, allegations have surfaced suggesting that the petrol distributed during the inauguration was merely old stock rather than newly refined products.
This revelation has cast doubt on whether the refinery ever resumed genuine operations.
Weeks before this halt, the refinery’s loading bay was also found inactive, attributed to calibration activities and the removal of water from ageing fuel stocks.
Despite assurances of resumption, the refinery has failed to sustain operations, leaving truck drivers uncertain about when or if loading will recommence.
One driver, who waited idly at the facility, mentioned that lifting might resume the following Monday but expressed doubts due to persistent delays.
Another confirmed that the last loading occurred on December 13, involving only about 15 trucks, and lamented the lack of communication from management.
Petroleum marketer Mr Dappa Jubobaraye criticized the refinery’s reopening, describing it as a deceptive publicity stunt.
He alleged that only a few trucks were loaded to create the illusion of activity, despite significant operational challenges such as uncalibrated meters and malfunctioning loading arms.
Jubobaraye further claimed that the NNPC has yet to set pricing for independent marketers to purchase fuel, limiting loading to its mega stations.
He described the current state as unsustainable, with tanker drivers forced to wait weeks without results.
The situation underscores broader concerns about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation efforts and the nation’s quest for energy self-sufficiency.