By Olaitan Ibrahim
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has described a report in a national newspaper that the Port Harcourt refinery which was revived about two months ago has been shut down again as totally false.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd in a statement on Saturday said contrary to the claims contained in the newspaper report, the Port Harcourt Refinery is fully functional and loading of petroleum products are going on at the facility.
Soneye, who recalled that some former Group Managing Directors of the company had during a visit to the facility had confirmed that it is fully functioning advised members of the public to disregard claims in some section of the media, alleging that they “are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.”
The statement by the NNPC Ltd reads: The attention of Nigerian National Petroleum Limited has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC. Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.
“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off
…Former GMDs say Port Harcourt Refinery transformation into a State-of-the-art plant is a significant achievement.
Recall that two former GMDs of NNPC had after a tour of the revamped refinery commended the Melee Kyari led management for those efforts that led to the re-streaming of the refinery after many years of inaction. They also acknowledged that the old Port Harcourt refinery which was constructed in in 1965 has been turned into a modern, state- of- the art facility.
They described the turnaround of the facility as a significant achievement for the current management of NNPC Ltd while appealing for similar turnaround of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
“Attempts were made in the past to revamp the plants, but unfortunately, they failed However, this current team, which has championed this noble and remarkable initiative, has done an excellent job. I have seen the columns, the heat exchangers, the desalter, and the sample points. The refining process is taking place, and the products are real,” one of the former GMDs of NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu said.
On his part, Gaius Obaseki, another former NNPC GMD noted that most commentators on the old Port Harcourt Refinery failed to appreciate the enormous efforts involved in bringing it back on stream
“This is a rehabilitation project. Those who are merely writing may not fully appreciate what you have accomplished. You are rehabilitating a plant that was originally built in 1965, and for that, we appreciate and congratulate you. We encourage you to continue supporting the government in its service to the people of Nigeria,” Obaseki said.