As Nigerians continue to groan over the recent increase in fuel prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Naijaonpoint brings you the latest update on petrol scarcity, fuel price increase and Govt/citizens’ reactions.
The operational capacity of the recently rehabilitated Port Harcourt Refining Company faced significant scrutiny on Thursday.
Allegations surfaced that petroleum products loaded from the facility on Tuesday were not newly refined but were, instead, products stored in its tanks for over three years.
This situation has reignited skepticism surrounding the refinery, which has experienced repeated delays and missed deadlines, with seven failed attempts to resume operations.
Timothy Mgbere, Secretary of the Alesa community stakeholders, claimed during a Thursday interview that the refinery’s 60,000 barrels per day capacity is far from being fully operational, contradicting the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) assertions.
The Alesa community, located in Eleme, Rivers State, hosts the Port Harcourt refinery.
Mgbere alleged that only six trucks of petroleum products were loaded on Tuesday, despite NNPCL’s claim that 200 trucks would be dispatched daily.
He further highlighted that the ceremony marking the plant’s reopening was largely symbolic, stating that full operations had not commenced.
Oil marketers have outlined conditions for patronizing the newly rehabilitated Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
They emphasized that refined petroleum products from the refinery must be priced below those from the Dangote Refinery to attract their business.
In response to claims that the NNPCL’s petrol price was around N1,045 per litre, the company clarified on Wednesday that it has not released official prices. Currently, products from the refinery are only supplied to NNPCL stations.
According to NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, the company is still reviewing prices and has not started bulk sales, as its purchasing portal remains closed.
Additionally, oil marketers imported 105.67 million litres of petrol into the country between November 23 and November 28.
Marketers confirmed that NNPCL was selling petrol at N1,045 per litre, which could force them to consider importation to meet local demand.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised concerns over the pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) produced by the recently reopened Port Harcourt Refinery.
Naijaonpoint reports that PETROAN revealed that the Port Harcourt Refinery sells its petrol ₦75 per litre higher than the price offered by the Dangote Refinery.
Dr. Joseph Obele, the association’s Public Relations Officer, highlighted this during the refinery’s reopening ceremony on Tuesday.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, now operating at 60,000 barrels per day, marks a significant step in revitalising Nigeria’s local petroleum production.
Dr. Obele, a former chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the Port Harcourt Depot, commended the federal government for the refinery’s restoration but noted a critical pricing issue.