NewStats: 3,262,606 , 8,177,682 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 01:18 AM 4z2u33

The Port Harcourt Refining Company will be shut down any time soon to undergo a maintenance exercise that could last for 30 days, Saturday PUNCH reports.

Some retailers told our correspondent that the facility was shut down on Thursday night, but the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said the plant was still operational as of Friday.


However, on Friday, fuel retailers in Eleme and Okrika, the communities hosting the Port Harcourt refinery, kicked against plans to shut it down. According to them, the refinery coordinator, Bayo Adenrele, had ordered the shutdown of the facility for unknown reasons.

The group spoke through a statement tly signed by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Sunny Nkpe; the BoT Secretary, Emmanuel Inimgba; the istrative Secretary and spokesman of PETROAN, Dr Joseph Obele; the istrative Chairman, Tekena Ikpaiki; and a board member, Dickson Obelley.

They alleged that some individuals were making efforts to cripple the revamped 60,000 barrel-per-day-capacity refinery.

“We, the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, 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.

“As we speak, the old Port Harcourt refinery has initiated the process of shutting down on the directives of Engr. Bayo,” the retailers told our correspondent.

The marketers argued that the shutdown of the refinery would give market dominance to a private refinery, leading to increased fuel prices in Nigeria and further exacerbating the economic hardship faced by the people.

They threatened to hold the coordinator responsible if a fuel crisis erupted after the shutdown of the facility.

“Furthermore, Engr. Bayo’s actions have been marked by a consistent disregard for the rights and interests of the host communities. During the rehabilitation process, he denied our communities their rightful benefits, including contracts, empowerment opportunities, and the sale of scraps,” the statement said.

Instead, it alleged that the coordinator engaged in practices short-changing the host communities while favouring his associates.

“The actions of Engr Bayo have hindered the completion of the CRU of the old refinery plant, and his activities are slowing down efforts to make Area 1, 2, and 3 plants of the new refinery fully operational. We fear that the planned shutdown will also lead to the disengagement of our sons and daughters who are currently working on the O&M of the refinery.

“We wish to make it clear that the host community and critical stakeholders will not fold their arms and allow this refinery to rot away after the government’s efforts to revive it. We will resist, with all vigor, through all available legal means, any push against the functionality of the refinery. We will not stand idly by while he prioritises private interests over the welfare of Nigerians,” the statement read partly.

The group recommended the immediate appointment of a substantive Managing Director for the refinery to facilitate the ongoing rehabilitation works.


“A permanent MD will bring stability and direction, ensuring the refinery’s revival and contributing to the nation’s economic growth,” the statement added.

The group called on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri and the Group Chief Executive of the NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, to wade into the matter as soon as possible.

They demanded the removal of the coordinator while calling on the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to intervene in the matter.

“We demand swift action to address this sabotage and protect the interests of Nigerians,” the statement concluded.

However, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, debunked claims of sabotage, saying the maintenance will ensure safe and sustainable operation of the refinery.


Soneye told our correspondent that though the refinery was still working as of Friday, it will undergo a one-month maintenance exercise.

While saying the maintenance will follow global best practices, he added that the NNPC will ensure uninterrupted fuel supply during the period.

“Please be informed that the refinery remains fully operational. However, we are preparing to undertake a scheduled critical safety maintenance exercise aimed at ensuring the continued safe and sustainable operation of the facility.

“This maintenance activity, which will follow global best practices, is expected to last approximately one month. To ensure uninterrupted supply during this period, we have adequate volumes of AGO, kerosene, and other products,” he said.

Recently, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria said the refineries owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited could not optimally produce motor spirits but naphtha.

DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, clarified that his will not go to the Port Harcourt or Warri refineries for petrol because the facilities were producing naphtha, not optimally producing the much-needed petrol.

“The NNPC refineries, both the revamped Port Harcourt and Warri, are not yet optimally producing PMS. They are producing naphtha. Our will not go to them for now.

“But where we can get the product is Dangote refinery and we are willing to buy from Dangote refinery, but if we don’t get the product from Dangote refinery, the PIA allows us to import, which is what we’ll go for,” Adewole said.

In November 2024, the NNPC said the 60,000 bpd-capacity Port-Harcourt refinery had resumed operations after years of inactivity.


The NNPC said the newly rehabilitated complex of the old Port-Harcourt refinery, which had been revamped and upgraded with modern equipment, was operating at a refining capacity of 70 per cent of its installed capacity.

The company added that diesel and Pour Fuel Oil would be the highest output from the refinery, with a daily capacity of 1.5 million litres and 2.1 million litres, respectively.

This is followed by a daily output of Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha) blended into 1.4 million litres of Motor Spirit, 900,000 litres of kerosene, and low-pour fuel oil of 2.1 million litres.

It was stated then that about 200 trucks of petrol would be released into the Nigerian market daily.

The NNPC spokesperson, Soneye, stated this while replying to claims from some quarters that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing fuel, but blending through Indorama Petrochemicals.

“We are, however, aware of unfounded claims by certain individuals suggesting that the refinery is not producing products. For clarity, the old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent.

“The refinery is producing the following daily outputs: Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha): Blended into 1.4 million litres of Motor Spirit (petrol); Kerosene: 900,000 litres; Automotive Gas Oil (diesel): 1.5 million litres; Low Pour Fuel Oil: 2.1 million litres; Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

“It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications. Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes,” Soneye disclosed in November.

He added that the NNPC had made substantial progress on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which he said would begin operations “soon” without prior announcements.

However, an April report by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that the Port Harcourt refinery had been operating below 40 per cent capacity.

Source: https://punchng.com/Marketers-kick-as-PHarcourt-refinery-faces-shutdown-for-maintenance

Nothing new. We knew they were playing on the masses' intelligence from start. Nigerians were only playing along. Everything about the apc is lies and propaganda

This is a refinery that they opened with enough owambe which day these our brothers and deceit na 5 & 6

They should stop lying to us
There is no need for it anymore
The entire country have decamped to APC, and come 2027, we will all line up to give tinubu 100% vote.

With that in mind
1. They should tell us the truth about some of these fake achievements. As zombies we are we won't mind, it's still tinubu all the way

2. They should allow us show tinubu how much we love him in 2027. No inec rigging, no go to your state and vote, no changing people's vote, no ballot snatching, IREV working fully. Let the people show our jagaban the purest of love with their votes

Emala and Awedu politics on the beat again

It's just like giving paracetamol to a dead person

We knew the refinery was just a propaganda, temporarily set up by some actors/cabal just to frustrate Dangote. It has never work for a single day and they keep wasting billions of Naira to maintain it.

If I see any of our politicians in heaven, wahala go dey ooo. Because the angel that opens door for him must tell me why.

Omo mehhhhhn!.....like it's always been said....
Dem no fit hide the belle of a pregnant woman!!......

Breeze don blow; fowl nyash don dey exposed!!......what will the legendary hordes of zombified creatures say about this one?...

It's a big shame

Keeping up the scam is hard

Lol

When they told us that they blended naptha and served as petrol that time, ndi uchu said all sorts to protect the lie.

What are they maintaining again?
Bastards!

N

I stated it clearly before now that there was no functional refinery owned by Nigerian government anywhere.
Going by the way Buhari pulled out that $1.5bn upfront from the federation , without any due process, I guess some advisers just reminded him then of the lucrative TAM ‘opportunities’ available in that sector to Nigerian presidents which he had yet to tap into.
I knew those refineries would never work.

Scam can never last long.

Helinues and Yarimo and ndi kiss the truth afa 😂 Tinubu is working 😂

We just too blind to see even if they give us medicated glasses 😂😂

Una think say we be kindergarten children 😂

Lies don't last 😂

Stop deceiving yourselves 😂

If Tinubu is working you won't work so hard to defend him online 😂

There's no big deal in this. The marketers should rest

adenigga:



Source: https://punchng.com/Marketers-kick-as-PHarcourt-refinery-faces-shutdown-for-maintenance

from lies to lies. I taught marketers said warri refinery was not producing any fuel? Lie lie propaganda people everywhere

Zionmdde:
They should stop lying to us
There is no need for it anymore
The entire country have decamped to APC, and come 2027, we will all line up to give tinubu 100% vote.

With that in mind
1. They should tell us the truth about some of these fake achievements. As zombies we are we won't mind, it's still tinubu all the way

2. They should allow us show tinubu how much we love him in 2027. No inec rigging, no go to your state and vote, no changing people's vote, no ballot snatching, IREV working fully. Let the people show our jagaban the purest of love with their votes

Thank you! Tinubu, if sure, should make 2027 free and fair. We want to check something.

adenigga:



Source: https://punchng.com/Marketers-kick-as-PHarcourt-refinery-faces-shutdown-for-maintenance

this same refinery Obj yan say e nor go work, plenty children for dis platform dey insult am....how e b now....the same APC wen paint plane give una, snake even swallow money , na dem una wan believe. Make una continue dey mumu.

lomprico:
Lol

When they told us that they blended naptha and served as petrol that time, ndi uchu said all sorts to protect the lie.

What are they maintaining again?
Bastards!

Mention one refinery in the world that doesn't get maintained.

Even Dangote wanted to start work on maintaining his refinery in June but he shift the maintainnce forward

Federal government ti gbewa ni handicap

I love this country

The main problem is when the refinery shuts down, the staff on payroll won't shut down with it. They'll continue to receive salaries, allowances and travel for so-called meaningless trainings.
This refineries didn't produce one litre of fuel for more than 10 years and their staff salary never stopped. They travel around the world and still get promotions FOR NOTHING.
Same situation at Ajaokuta.
Only in Nigeria...

I said from the beginning until they run this refinery for 9months stretch to 1 yrs before I can believe they truly did a good job on the turnaround maintenance,now about 6 months into the year,they want to shut it down,
Anyone believing any government or politicians means well with these crop of people in government and power just keep living in fools paradise
These people are just there for themselves to benefit and loot the system,
1.5billion dollars spent to turnaround and yet 6
months into the year they want to shut it down
Yeye country



https://dailypost.ng/2025/05/24/incompetence-petroan-reveals-reason-nnpcl-shut-down-port-harcourt-refinery/

F117nighthawk:
I said from the beginning until they run this refinery for 9months stretch to 1 yrs before I can believe they truly did a good job on the turnaround maintenance,now about 6 months into the year,they want to shut it down,
Anyone believing any government or politicians means well with these crop of people in government and power just keep living in fools paradise
These people are just there for themselves to benefit and loot the system,
1.5billion dollars spent to turnaround and yet 6 months into the year they want to shut it down
Yeye country

What do you know about refineries??

All refineries in the world undergo constant maintenance and that is why it's extremely important for a country like Nigeria to have as many as possible.

Everything must not always be about bad politics and doom wishes.

Basically, all those billions of dollars that have been wasted for "turn around maintainance" were siphoned!? Before our very eyes!? And the perpetrators of this heist are around walking freely while the EFCC is busy parading young boys with laptops all over the place!?
Ajeokuta steel complex, refineries, rolling Mills, Highways ... these have become conduits pipes for endless looting in this country.
How can you spend an amount other countries use to buikd a new refinery in maintaining an old refinery, only for he said old refinery to pack up few months after the "completion" of the maintenence project!?!?!
The new MD of the NNPC will now award his new "turnaround maintenence" contract!?
Haba!

Ikaeniyan0:
Mention one refinery in the world that doesn't get maintained.

you guys can even defend shekau if Tinubu appointed him a minister of islamic affairs

Marketers or frontmen for corrupt apc politicians

Afonja007:
you guys can even defend shekau if Tinubu appointed him a minister of islamic affairs

Mention one refinery in the world that does not get maintained

Even Dangote wanted to start maintenance at his refinery next month before he cancelled it

PlasmaTV:


Thank you! Tinubu, if sure, should make 2027 free and fair. We want to check something.

With Tinubu's health concern and Christians fear about muslim-muslim ticket out of the way, you still think Obi will have the kind of votes he had in 2023?? 😂

Obi will struggle to beat Sowore in a free and fair election of 2027.

when was this refinery revitalized that it is being shutdown for maintenance?

Daku daji refinery

Sultty:
from lies to lies. I taught marketers said warri refinery was not producing any fuel? Lie lie propaganda people everywhere

That's what I don't understand.

The marketers argued that the shutdown of the refinery would give market dominance to a private refinery, leading to increased fuel prices in Nigeria and further exacerbating the economic hardship faced by the people.

They threatened to hold the coordinator responsible if a fuel crisis erupted after the shutdown of the facility.

They said it was not producing. Now, they're saying its closure will cause problems. Then down the article, it says it's only producing Naphtha.

Only God knows what's going on with these refineries