The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery will sell premium motor spirit (PMS) at N1,030 per litre.
The association confirmed that the refinery is operational, as claimed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In a statement on Thursday night, PETROAN spokesman Joseph Obele disclosed: “NNPC Retail Ltd has officially announced the PMS price at the Port Harcourt refinery as N1,030 per litre. It was also communicated to PETROAN that the product request portal was open for booking/request.”
Obele further stated that PETROAN’s strategic pricing team is analyzing the most favorable price for its members, emphasizing:
“We are open to patronizing all the refineries in Nigeria.”
Calls for Price Reduction
PETROAN urged NNPC Retail to consider lowering the price to ensure a more affordable Yuletide celebration for Nigerians.
The announcement follows a recent reduction by the Dangote Refinery, which lowered its PMS price from N990 to N970 per litre.
Clarifying Refinery Operations
Addressing claims that the Port Harcourt Refinery is not operational, Obele said: “We state emphatically that the old Port Harcourt refinery is functional and producing refined petroleum products at the moment.
“On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the top management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, led by Mele Kyari, took stakeholders and journalists to the plant with a view to having first-hand information and to see things themselves. The old Port Harcourt refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90%.”
Obele dismissed rumors that the refurbished refinery is merely a blending plant.
He added, “As part of PETROAN’s oversight function as key stakeholders, we have direct access to the plant on the authorization of management and will encourage anyone doubting its functional status to contact NNPC management for a facility tour rather than spreading misleading information.”
He clarified that the functional unit is the old refinery with a 60,000-barrel-per-day capacity. Meanwhile, the new refinery, with a 200,000-barrel-per-day capacity, is still undergoing rehabilitation and is expected to commence production soon. Both facilities are located at Alesa Eleme in Rivers State.
Senate Confirmation
Obele noted that the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, led by Senator Kawu Sumaila, recently verified the refinery’s operations.
“The senate committee saw the plant functional and petroleum trucks loading at the Port Harcourt refinery depot,” he stated.
He added that PETROAN’s leadership, including National President Dr. Billy Hary, was present during the Senate’s visit to express readiness to commence loading at the refinery.
Call for Road Repairs
Obele noted concerns over the state of the Eleme East-West Road, which poses a risk to petroleum trucks transporting products. He urged the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite repairs on the road, emphasizing its importance for safe transport.
PETROAN also expressed support for the planned privatization of state-owned refineries, recommending that the process be credible and transparent. The group suggested handing the refineries over to reputable private firms with the necessary financial and technical capacity.(Guardian)
