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Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Operations as Calibration Delays Truck Loading

Port Harcourt Refinery Faces Setback as Calibration Delays Operations and Empty Loading Bays

The Port Harcourt Refinery, which had recently resumed operations with much fanfare, has once again come to a standstill, leaving many Nigerians questioning the true state of affairs. Despite high expectations following the resumption announcement, a visit to the refinery by Newsmen revealed a lack of activity on-site by Friday, with workers stating that the refinery was undergoing calibration, a process that may take until next week to complete.

Earlier in the week, Melee Kyari, the Group CEO of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), had officially inaugurated the newly rehabilitated plant at the Area 5 terminal on Tuesday. It was reported that 200 petrol trucks were loading daily, signaling the revival of the facility. However, skepticism arose as some insiders claimed that the trucks were loading old, off-spec products from the storage tanks.

When Newsmen visited the refinery’s Area 5 terminal, there was no sign of the bustling activity that had been promised. An anonymous refinery official revealed that the petrol trucks being loaded at the time were filled with “dead stock”—old products that had been sitting in the tanks since before the refinery was shut down between 2015 and 2016.

According to the source, large quantities of refined petrol, kerosene (DPK), and diesel (AGO) had been stored in the tanks for years. During the rehabilitation process, these products were evacuated from the storage tanks. The official explained that while some of the products were off-spec and required additional processing, they were still being used to load the trucks.

“The petrol in the tanks is off-spec, meaning it has to be separated from the water and treated to meet the required quality,” the source said. “As for the kerosene, it’s still there but hasn’t been processed for commercial use. So, the trucks loading now are only taking the old stock.”

The source also pointed out that the refinery’s operations are still largely manual, with refurbished pumps being used instead of the modern digital systems that should be in place. This has led to inefficiencies in the loading process, with reports that only five out of seven trucks were filled with petrol during Kyari’s visit.

The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Taken Ikpaki, had previously expressed optimism, suggesting that more trucks would be coming to load products in the following days. However, as of Friday, the situation looked quite different. Trucks that were once filling up the loading bay were now parked idle, and workers were seen lounging with no machinery in operation.

At around 1:30 pm on Friday, the loading bay—numbered from 1 to 18—was completely empty, with workers explaining that the delay was due to ongoing calibration of the loading pumps.

“They are calibrating the meters,” one worker said, while another noted that de-watering processes were taking place to remove water from the petrol before loading could resume. Sources suggested that the calibration would continue until Monday, and that loading of kerosene and diesel would commence soon after.

A resident of Alode in Eleme Local Government Area, Osaro, expressed his frustration over the lack of progress, commenting, “After the ceremony with Kyari, where they claimed the refinery was back to life, nothing has really changed. It’s all been talk and social media headlines, but in reality, it’s just empty promises.”

When contacted for comment, Dr. Joseph Obelle, the National Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), confirmed that calibration was the reason for the delay. “They are calibrating the loading pumps and expect to be done today,” Obelle stated.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Petroleum conducted a facility tour of the refinery on Thursday, though the results of the visit have not been made public.

Despite the ongoing issues, the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, dismissed claims from an Alesa community leader, Timothy Mgbere, that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing fuel. Soneye criticized the allegations as based on “ignorance,” explaining that both the old and new Port Harcourt refineries are integrated with a single terminal for product load-out, sharing common utilities and storage facilities.

He urged the public to disregard such claims, calling them “misleading” and based on a lack of understanding of refinery operations.

Nwadiogbu S.G Chinedu

Nwadiogbu S.G Chinedu is a graduate of Physics and Astronomy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In addition to his academic background, he is a skilled digital marketer, content creator, and image maker, helping both brands and individuals enhance their visibility and tell compelling stories. His expertise spans across various digital platforms, where he crafts engaging content and leverages marketing strategies to drive growth. Chinedu is passionate about creative expression and enjoys blogging, traveling, and meeting new people. His diverse interests fuel his work, allowing him to connect with a wide audience and bring fresh perspectives to everything he does.

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