Operations at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) have come to a standstill less than a month after its much publicized reopening. A visit to the facility on Thursday, December 19, 2024, revealed a deserted loading bay, with petrol lifting activities completely halted.
The depot was eerily quiet, with only a handful of trucks parked along the road leading to the refinery and within its premises. Truck drivers were seen idling, uncertain about when operations would resume.
“It was Friday last week they loaded last,” one truck driver said. “About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded till now.” He added, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information. Some trucks have left. My director just told me to wait a bit.”
The refinery, inaugurated on November 26, 2024, by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, underwent a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project approved in 2021. The reopening had sparked optimism about Nigeria’s refining capacity. However, less than two weeks later, operations ceased, leaving stakeholders questioning the effectiveness of the rehabilitation.
During the inauguration, only a few trucks loaded products, contrary to claims of large-scale activity. Allegations have since emerged that the petrol lifted on that day was old stock.
“It was intended to give the impression that the refinery is working,” said petroleum product marketer, Mr. Dappa Jubobaraye. “That day, only about four or five trucks loaded products. The loading meter was not calibrated yet before they started operation. Of the 18 loading arms at the bay, only three are working, and they have leakages.”
He further explained that independent marketers have not been able to load products since the departure of NNPCL CEO Mele Kyari. “Since Mele Kyari left, no independent marketer has loaded products because the NNPCL has yet to fix prices. They are only loading for their own mega stations. This situation cannot continue,” Jubobaraye added.
Earlier, the refinery’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja, had touted the facility’s functionality during a guided tour. “The plant is running, and we are trucking out our products,” he said. “We have revamped this plant and replaced most of the equipment. The pump, instrumentation, and cables are all new.”
However, the current inactivity paints a different picture. Drivers and marketers expressed their frustrations over the lack of transparency and operational inefficiencies.
“How can you come here with the hope of loading and stay with your truck for two weeks? For what?” Jubobaraye asked. “One arm in the loading bay can load 20 to 30 trucks in a day. But now, only three arms are working, and only for PMS. They have not started loading kerosene or diesel. This affects ordinary people the most.”
The refinery’s inactivity raises serious concerns about the $1.5 billion rehabilitation and the viability of local refining to meet Nigeria’s petroleum needs. Stakeholders are now demanding accountability and immediate action to resolve the operational challenges.
