The state-owned Port Harcourt Refinery has unexpectedly ceased operations less than a month after its much-anticipated rehabilitation, raising concerns about the stability of Nigeria's energy sector.
This development was confirmed by an anonymous member of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), who disclosed to ICMNEWS that petrol lifting activities at the refinery have been suspended since December 13.
The source stated, "I can confirm to you that there has been no petrol lifting activity at the plant since last week, 13th December. Tanker drivers are at the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery waiting until Monday. Maybe petrol lifting will recommence."
Efforts to obtain comments from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have so far been unsuccessful. The spokesperson for NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, has not responded to inquiries regarding the halt in operations.
The refinery, which underwent a $1.5 billion rehabilitation approved in 2021, was announced to have resumed petrol lifting on November 26.
Initial reports from NNPC claimed that over 200 trucks were loaded with petrol following the rehabilitation. However, conflicting accounts suggest that only 10 trucks lifted petrol on the inauguration day, and these were reportedly from old stock—a claim that NNPC has denied.
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