Tension Soars As FG Moves To Halt Port Harcourt Refinery—Marketers Warn Of Fallout

The Port Harcourt Refining Company is expected to commence a maintenance shutdown lasting approximately 30 days, Saturday PUNCH has learned.

Although some fuel marketers claimed the refinery had already been shut down on Thursday night, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) maintained on Friday that the plant remained operational.

Tensions rose on Friday as fuel retailers in Eleme and Okrika—host communities of the Port Harcourt refinery—voiced strong opposition to the planned shutdown. They accused the refinery’s coordinator, Engr. Bayo Adenrele, of ordering the closure for undisclosed reasons.

The retailers, under the banner of the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, expressed their concerns in a joint statement signed by several key representatives, including Sunny Nkpe (BoT Chairman), Emmanuel Inimgba (BoT Secretary), Dr. Joseph Obele (PETROAN Spokesman), Tekena Ikpaiki (Administrative Chairman), and Dickson Obelley (Board Member).

According to the group, the actions of Engr. Adenrele appear to sabotage the newly revamped refinery, which has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day. They alleged that he was acting in the interest of a private refinery and deliberately restricting crude oil supply to the facility.

“As we speak, the old Port Harcourt refinery has begun shutting down on the directive of Engr. Bayo,” the group stated. They warned that the shutdown could lead to a fuel crisis, granting dominance to private refineries and potentially causing fuel prices to spike, worsening the economic strain on Nigerians.

They also accused Engr. Adenrele of marginalizing host communities during the refinery’s rehabilitation—denying them job opportunities, contracts, and even the right to participate in the sale of scrap materials. According to them, his actions have delayed the completion of critical units and hindered progress in fully operationalizing the refinery’s facilities.

The retailers demanded the immediate removal of Adenrele and called for the appointment of a substantive Managing Director to steer the refinery’s rehabilitation and ensure accountability. They also appealed to key stakeholders—including Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, NNPC Group CEO Bayo Ojulari, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio—to intervene.

“We will resist any attempt to sabotage this national asset using all legal means. The welfare of Nigerians must not be compromised for private interests,” they warned.

In response, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, denied any allegations of sabotage. He explained that the upcoming one-month maintenance is a scheduled safety procedure essential for sustainable operations and will follow international best practices.

“Please be informed that the refinery is still operating. The maintenance exercise is crucial to ensure the plant’s safety and long-term viability. We have sufficient stock of AGO, kerosene, and other products to guarantee uninterrupted supply during this period,” Soneye said.

He added that the refinery was currently producing up to 70% of its installed capacity, outputting 1.5 million litres of diesel, 2.1 million litres of low-pour fuel oil, 900,000 litres of kerosene, and 1.4 million litres of PMS daily through naphtha blending—assisted by Indorama Petrochemicals.

However, industry players like the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) have expressed skepticism, asserting that the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries are not yet capable of producing premium motor spirit (PMS) optimally.

DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, stated: “Our members won’t patronize the NNPC refineries for PMS, as they currently produce naphtha. We’ll opt for Dangote refinery or import under the PIA if necessary.”

It will be recalled that NNPC had proudly announced in November 2024 that the rehabilitated Port Harcourt refinery was back online after years of inactivity, with plans to eventually ramp up to 90% capacity.

Despite this, recent data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority indicate the refinery has been operating at less than 40% capacity, fueling further concerns about transparency and efficiency in its operations.