The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has issued a forceful demand for the timely completion of rehabilitation works on the new Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, expressing mounting frustration over persistent delays despite numerous assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
While acknowledging the commencement of operations at the Old Port Harcourt refinery with its 60,000 barrels per day capacity, PETROAN’s president, Billy Gillis-Harris, stressed the urgent need for transparency and accountability regarding the second Port Harcourt Refinery’s 210,000 barrels per day capacity, along with the Warri and Kaduna facilities.
“PETROAN therefore demands that the NNPC provide a specific and realistic timeline for the completion and commissioning of these refineries, especially the second Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project,” Gillis-Harris stated.
The association highlighted how delays are severely impacting Nigeria’s economy, noting that the New Port Harcourt refinery, when operational, would serve approximately 13 states in System 2E, significantly reducing the “highly exorbitant” cost of transporting petroleum products from Lagos to other regions.
Given the far-reaching implications for the nation’s economy, PETROAN called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by establishing a high-level facilitating panel comprising stakeholders from NMDPRA, NUPRC, NNPC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN, MEMAN, DAPPMAN, PETROAN, and other industry experts to identify bottlenecks and ensure timely completion.
Gillis-Harris also raised concerns about the current vacancy in the office of the managing director of the Port Harcourt refinery, recommending that NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer appoint a substantive Managing Director promptly to provide necessary leadership and direction.
“The continuous delay in the completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project and other refinery projects is unacceptable,” he declared. “The huge amount borrowed for the projects should be a serious concern to all citizens, and we will demand accountability for every naira spent on this project.”
Source: orientalnewsng.com