Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Eleme & Okrika Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association reacted to NNPC’s statement that the refinery had been operational until Friday, 24 May 2025, when it was shut down for scheduled maintenance.
The association claimed that the refinery had been facing a shortage of crude oil for an extended period for reasons yet to be explained, raising concerns that the facility could remain dormant indefinitely, much like the Warri refinery.
Joseph Obele, Administrative Secretary and Spokesman of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), stated that the shutdown was not due to maintenance, but rather a lack of crude oil supply.
“As members of the Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association, we have privileged information, and it is true that the refinery has been denied crude for some days now. Shutting down the refinery was far from maintenance; it was due to a shortage of crude oil,” Obele said.
He further revealed that an internal memo from the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) indicated that the refinery’s crude oil cracking process was yielding only Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and no Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), making continued operations economically unviable.
Obele raised an alarm to President Bola Tinubu, urging the federal government to investigate the alleged diversion of crude oil meant for the refinery’s operations.
“There was no crude supply to the refinery, and the question we are asking is, if they are denying this refinery crude oil, where is the local volume? It can only be finding its way into the international market. The federal government, under President Tinubu, has been clear that crude meant for local refining should not be sold abroad. We are raising this alarm to inform Mr President that the refinery is being denied crude oil, and the crude meant for the local refinery must be accounted for,” he insisted.
Obele expressed concern that the refinery would not resume operations within the stipulated 30-day window unless crude oil was available in the facility’s reservoirs.
“Even after 30 days, there’s no possibility of the refinery restarting if there’s no crude oil. Weeks before it resumed in November, there was a sufficient supply of crude. As we speak,the refinery is dry, and the question remains: where is the crude oil meant for this facility? Crude oil supply isn’t an overnight process; it takes weeks to organise and deliver,” he added.
Sunny Nkpe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association, commended President Tinubu for his efforts in revamping Nigeria’s neglected refineries. However, he stressed the need for a consistent supply of crude oil to the Port Harcourt facility.
Nkpe urged the appointment of a substantive Managing Director with technical expertise to oversee the completion of the refinery’s revamp and ensure the project is delivered on time. He also called for adherence to the 30-day repair timeline and for regular progress updates from contractors and the NNPC to avoid further delays.
The association also praised the former Managing Director of the refinery, Ibrahim Onoja, and his team for their commitment and hard work in the refinery’s rehabilitation efforts, stating that they deserved recognition and incentives.
Efforts to reach NNPC’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to messages sent by our correspondent. However, Soneye had earlier dismissed allegations of sabotage, reiterating that the refinery’s shutdown was part of a scheduled maintenance programme aimed at enhancing its operations.
In a public statement, Soneye said:
“NNPC Ltd wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown. This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment commenced on 24 May 2025.”
He further emphasised that the maintenance would follow global best practices and that the company was working closely with relevant regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to ensure transparency and efficiency throughout the process.
Soneye assured that the exercise would not disrupt fuel supply, adding that there were adequate stocks of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), kerosene, and other products to sustain the market during the shutdown.
He said:
“We are preparing to undertake a scheduled critical safety maintenance exercise aimed at ensuring the continued safe and sustainable operation of the facility. This maintenance activity, which will follow global best practices, is expected to last approximately one month. To ensure uninterrupted supply during this period, we have adequate volumes of AGO, kerosene, and other products.”
The situation remains tense as stakeholders await the resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, with many demanding transparency in the allocation and distribution of crude oil to ensure the refinery’s sustainable operation.
