Operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery have come to an abrupt halt less than a month after the much-celebrated reopening following rehabilitation works, which cost $1.5 billion.

As of Thursday, December 19, 2024, it was observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, had completely stopped. The refinery’s usually bustling loading bay, capable of handling 18 trucks simultaneously, stood empty, with no sign of activity. 

Reports indicate that the lifting of petrol ceased on Friday, December 13.

While a few trucks were parked along the road leading to the refinery and inside its parking yard, the loading bay itself showed no sign of operation. This was a stark contrast to the scene during the plant’s reopening in November, which was celebrated as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s bid for energy independence. 

At the time of the inauguration, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, proudly declared the refinery ready to operate at a production capacity of 60,000 barrels per day.

As of then, there were allegations that the petrol lifted during the inauguration was not newly refined but rather old stock from the storage tanks. This assertion has raised questions about whether the facility ever truly resumed refining operations.

It can be recalled that the loading area of the refinery was found empty, three weeks ago. However, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria explained, then that this was due to equipment calibration and the removal of water from old fuel supplies.

Despite assurances from refinery management and a subsequent brief resumption of loading activities, the plant has once again ground to a halt.

At the facility, truck drivers idled in their vehicles, uncertain about when operations would resume. One driver hinted that lifting might start again on Monday but expressed scepticism, citing repeated delays and a lack of clear communication. 

Another driver said, “It was Friday last week they loaded last. About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded till now.”

Asked if any explanation was given, he replied, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information or telling us anything. Some trucks that were here have left. I’m just here because my director said I should wait a bit.”

Meanwhile, Petroleum product marketer Mr. Dappa Jubobaraye criticized the state of refineries in Nigeria, alleging that the inauguration was nothing more than a public relations stunt.

He stated, “It was intended to deceive Nigerians that the refinery is working and that is why they came up with that show. 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. So, they have been trying to load three, four, five trucks, sometimes 10 just to show that they are working while they are not working.

“Since Mele Kyari came and left, the independent marketers have yet to load products from this depot because the NNPC is yet to fix prices for them to buy tickets and start loading products. They are only loading them to their own mega stations.

“The situation right now is that loading of PMS is not taking place because they don’t have the intention to make this place work. It is just to deceive the people.

“If you come into this place (depot), you will see trucks packed and think that loading is on; but the truth is that they are not working. Some tanker drivers have gone because they can’t come and waste time here.”

He continued, “How can you come here with the hope of loading and you stay here with your truck for two weeks, for what? Before the work stopped last week, they were loading up to 10, 15 but below 20.

“Ordinary one of the arms in the loading bay can load up to 20 to 30 trucks in a day. But for now, they are using only three arms out of the 18 loading arms inside the bay and the three are just for PMS alone. They have not started loading DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel). And kerosene is what concerns the ordinary more.”