Fuel Retailers Dispute NNPC’s Claims of Ongoing Maintenance at Port Harcourt Refinery
Petroleum marketers in Rivers State have challenged assertions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) that the Port Harcourt refinery is undergoing maintenance, insisting instead that the facility has been inactive due to a prolonged lack of crude oil supply.
Speaking under the banner of the Eleme & Okrika Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association, the marketers claimed that the refinery had not received crude for over three months before it was eventually shut down. At a press briefing on Thursday, the group criticized the NNPC’s statement that the refinery remained operational until May 24, arguing that production had already stalled due to a crude shortage.
Joseph Obele, the Administrative Secretary and Spokesperson of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), expressed concerns that the shutdown had little to do with scheduled maintenance. “From what we know as stakeholders and host community retailers, the refinery wasn’t shut down for maintenance—it simply ran out of crude oil,” Obele said.
He pointed to an internal communication from the refinery’s management suggesting that the crude being processed was not yielding premium motor spirit (PMS), but only diesel (AGO), making continued operations unviable. “The cracking process without producing PMS was deemed ineffective, hence the decision to halt operations,” he added.
Obele further alleged that crude intended for the Port Harcourt refinery might have been diverted to the international market, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. “We’re raising this issue so the President is aware that the local refinery is being starved of crude. The big question is: where is the crude meant for domestic refining?”
According to him, without adequate reserves, the refinery is unlikely to resume within the touted 30-day timeline. “Refineries don’t just start up in a day—crude supply takes time. As of now, the tanks are empty,” he said.
The association also praised President Tinubu’s efforts to revive Nigeria’s refineries but urged for consistent and transparent crude allocation. Board of Trustees Chairman Sunny Nkpe emphasized the need for a qualified Managing Director to oversee the final phase of the refinery’s rehabilitation and stressed the importance of tracking crude allocations to prevent future disruptions.
Nkpe called on the government to stick to its 30-day repair schedule and urged regular updates from both contractors and the NNPC. He also applauded the previous Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja, and his team for their progress and commitment to revamping the facility.
In response to the allegations, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye did not immediately provide a comment. However, he had earlier denied any suggestions of sabotage, stating that the shutdown was part of a planned maintenance routine.
Soneye explained that the refinery’s temporary closure, beginning May 24, was intended for safety checks and operational enhancements. “This is a scheduled shutdown to conduct essential maintenance and a sustainability review,” he said.
He assured that the company was collaborating with regulatory authorities, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to carry out the process transparently and efficiently.
“The public can expect regular updates through our official communication channels. We remain committed to ensuring energy security in Nigeria,” Soneye said, adding that product supply would not be disrupted during the maintenance period.
