Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Operations Again: $1.5 Billion Rehabilitation Under Scrutiny

Fresh details emerge as the Port Harcourt Refinery ceases operations weeks after reopening. Allegations of unrefined stock, halted petrol lifting, and equipment failure raise questions about the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project.

Port Harcourt Refinery Suspends Operations, Casting Doubt on $1.5 Billion Rehabilitation

The Port Harcourt Refinery, which recently reopened after a highly publicized $1.5 billion rehabilitation, has unexpectedly halted operations. Less than a month after its relaunch, activities at the facility have ceased, leaving many questioning the success of the refurbishment project.

By Thursday, December 19, 2024, reports confirmed a complete stoppage in the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The refinery’s previously active loading bay, designed to accommodate up to 18 trucks simultaneously, was eerily silent, with no visible activity. Sources revealed that petrol lifting last occurred on Friday, December 13.

Empty Loading Bays and Allegations of Old Stock

Truck drivers stationed near the refinery expressed frustration, citing uncertainty about when operations might resume. According to one driver, “They loaded about 15 trucks last Friday, but since then, not a single truck has been loaded. We’re just waiting without any clear updates.”

When the refinery reopened in November, it was heralded as a landmark step toward achieving energy independence in Nigeria. During the inauguration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO, Mele Kyari, announced the facility’s readiness to refine up to 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

However, allegations have surfaced that the petrol lifted during the reopening ceremony came from old storage tanks rather than newly refined fuel. These claims have intensified doubts about whether the refinery ever truly resumed operations.

Equipment Challenges and Mixed Communication

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria had earlier explained that delays were due to equipment calibration and efforts to remove water from old fuel supplies. Despite temporary assurances and a brief resumption, the refinery has once again stalled.

Independent petroleum marketers, including Mr. Dappa Jubobaraye, have heavily criticized the refinery’s state. He accused the NNPCL of staging the inauguration as a public relations exercise, saying, “It was all a show to convince Nigerians the refinery is functional. In reality, only a handful of trucks were loaded that day, and the loading meters were not calibrated properly. Out of 18 loading arms, only three were operational, and even those had leaks.”

Jubobaraye further pointed out that no diesel (AGO) or kerosene (DPK) has been loaded since the reopening, leaving millions of Nigerians without access to critical fuel products.

Drivers and Marketers Frustrated by Stalled Operations

Truck drivers lamented long waiting periods and a lack of communication from refinery officials. Some stated that they had been parked for over two weeks without progress. “The arms in the loading bay could load up to 30 trucks daily, yet only three are functional. Even then, these three are strictly used for PMS,” one marketer explained.

Despite the grand promises made during its reopening, the Port Harcourt Refinery’s shutdown raises pressing questions about the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project’s transparency and long-term viability. Critics argue that without immediate and effective action, the dream of achieving energy independence through local refinery operations may remain elusive.