…delay may worsen economic hardship
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to strictly follow the proposed 30-day repair schedule for the old Port Harcourt refinery shutdown.
In a statement released on Sunday, Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s spokesperson, relayed comments from the association’s president, Billy Gillis-Harry, who emphasised that swift completion of the repairs would help prevent disruptions in the supply of petroleum products.
“PETROAN fears that the 30-day schedule might not be realistic due to usual bottlenecks, potentially leading to further delays and exacerbating supply challenges,” Obele said.
“The association is worried that delays in the old refinery’s 30-day rehabilitation schedule may worsen economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.”
NNPC had announced on Saturday that maintenance work and a sustainability assessment of the old refinery would commence on 24 May and is expected to run for 30 days.
According to Obele, PETROAN is urging the inclusion of several key measures, such as preventing monopolistic practices, integrating the PMS blending unit, establishing a monitoring task force, issuing weekly updates, and ensuring timely payment to contractors.
“Inclusion of PMS Blending Unit: PETROAN emphasises that the repair process must include the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit, as the crude oil cracking process is of no value without it,” he said.
“Timely Completion: PETROAN demands that NNPCL complete the repair before existing stocks run dry to prevent market monopolisation and ensure a stable supply of petroleum products.
The association also noted that completing the project as scheduled would safeguard competition in the sector, ultimately serving the interests of consumers and bolstering the national economy.
“Task Force Setup: PETROAN recommends that the Honourable Minister of Petroleum sets up a task force comprising all Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum to monitor the 30-day repairs.
“Weekly Progress Briefs: The task force should brief Nigerians on the job progress every weekend to ensure transparency and accountability in achieving the 30-day repair schedule.”
Obele added that PETROAN’s call for prompt payment to contractors managing the repairs, warning that any financial delays could derail the project timeline.
