Marketers to begin fuel lifting at P’Harcourt refinery soon
Petroleum marketers have announced that they plan to start lifting petroleum from the state-owned Port Harcourt refinery soon.They said that the process would be seamless because they are already NNPC clients.
Speaking at the refinery complex on Tuesday, Joseph Obele, Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, thanked the NNPC and President Tinubu for reaching the milestone.
Obele described the Port Harcourt refinery as a dream come true, claiming that it had proven the critics wrong.
"It's a dream come true." Many individuals have asked me whether it was a rumour or true. We applaud the NNPC and the President for this. "We now have hope that marketers will load at the Port Harcourt refinery," Obele stated.
He added in a statement, "PETROAN was fully on the ground with National President Dr Billy Gillis Hary and other national officers of PETROAN at the ceremonial commencement at Alesa Eleme, and the smiles on people's faces were a clear indication of joy arising from the commencement of loading after a six-year dormant state."
"PETROAN is optimistic that the start of production at the Port Harcourt refinery would provide job opportunities, strengthen the economy, and spark competition in the downstream sector, all of which will lead to a major price decrease.
"We reaffirm our commitment to synergising with the management of NNPC Retail and other stakeholders in ensuring that products lifted at the Port Harcourt refinery depot are well distributed to all the nooks and crannies of the nation at the right time with the right price."
Chinedu Ukadike, spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, described this as a positive development.
The IPMAN publicity secretary stated that marketers are now the "beautiful bride" of the two refineries.
"IPMAN members are excited about the Port Harcourt refinery. Right now, we have two sources of petroleum products. Monopolization is no longer a problem. The deregulation competition has begun. We, the independent marketers, are now the lovely bride. We will buy any goods that is cheap. The competition has begun, and we are pleased. Activities in the host community have taken up. And traffic in Ibeju-Lekki and Apapa would be minimized," he said.
Meanwhile, Matrix Energy's Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkabir Aliu, whom the NNPC head referred to as the project's lender, stated that the company's dedication to the nation's prosperity was the reason funds were given for the project.
Aliu described how some people advised Matrix Energy to write off the debt when it looked the refinery would never be functioning again.
"We believe in our country, which is why we put our money down. "Some people have advised us to write off the money," the Matrix Energy CEO remarked as he praised the NNPC.
The Port Harcourt refinery will become the second petrol-producing refinery once it begins operations, following the Dangote refinery's start of PMS production in September.
The Port Harcourt plant is now the sole facility capable of competing with the Dangote refinery, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels.
It was discovered that traders had not yet been able to lift items directly from the Dangote facility.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu is pushing for a faster completion of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed his deepest congratulations to the NNPC on the refinery's successful rehabilitation.
"The President recognizes previous President Muhammadu Buhari's essential role in launching the comprehensive rehabilitation of all of our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.
"Furthermore, President Tinubu praises the leadership of NNPC Limited's Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, whose unflinching passion and commitment were critical in overcoming obstacles to reach this milestone.
"With the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries," according to the statement.
After seven delays, the Port Harcourt Refinery Company has resumed fuel production, with a pledge to deliver approximately 200 trucks daily.
On Tuesday, the factory released almost one million litres of refined products.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited unveiled the refinery, claiming that the ancient plant, which can produce 60,000 barrels per day, has been refurbished and upgraded with contemporary equipment.
The NNPC further reported that the newly restored refinery is currently functioning at 70% of its total refining capacity.
Leave A Comment