The Chief Security Officer of Alesa Kingdom in Rivers State, Mr Dibia Isaiah, has rebuffed rumours that the Port Harcourt Refinery is not operational.
Recall that last Tuesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced the commencement of crude oil processing at the facility.
This came after the federal government approved the sum of $1.5 billion for the repair of the refinery in 2021 as part of efforts to make the country a net exporter of petroleum products and stop the importation of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, into the country.
But after the announcement over a week ago, there have been reports that the refinery was not working because the repairs were not completed.
Mr Isaiah, who doubles as NNPC Pipelines and Storage Company Loader, said the facility was working fine, with trucks lifting petroleum products.
“I am one of the loaders from the host community and NPSC. As you can see, the refinery is operational and running smoothly. This morning, I have already loaded four trucks.
“We are delighted that business has finally commenced after many years. The refinery has given us products, so now we are loading, and tomorrow we are loading. This time is a very busy period for us,” he said in a video.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, last week commended the NNPC for reviving the Port Harcourt refinery.
“The refinery boasts an installed production capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Approximately 200 trucks are expected to load products daily from the refinery. Nigerians now await the corresponding impact and benefits on pump prices and the overall economy,” he stated in his reaction.
The former Governor of Anambra State said further the rehabilitation of the refinery would “boost productivity, improve transportation, and alleviate economic burdens across the country.”