PETROAN Urges NNPCL to Meet 30-Day Port Harcourt Refinery Deadline

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to strictly adhere to a 30-day timeline for the ongoing repair of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

This call was made in a statement released on Sunday by PETROAN spokesperson Joseph Obele, following NNPCL’s announcement on Saturday about the planned shutdown of the refinery for maintenance and sustainability assessment.

PETROAN emphasized that maintaining the 30-day repair schedule is crucial to avoid disruptions in petroleum product supply. The association warned that any extension of the timeline could worsen Nigeria’s existing fuel supply issues and cause further hardship for citizens.

According to PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, while the maintenance work is routine and necessary, the association is concerned that typical delays and bottlenecks may hinder the timely completion of the repairs.

These delays, PETROAN says, would negatively impact its members, many of whom have already invested significantly in purchasing petroleum products from the NNPCL refinery depot.

PETROAN outlined several key demands to NNPCL:

1. Inclusion of PMS Blending Unit: The repair must include the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit, as crude oil cracking alone is insufficient.
2. Timely Completion: The repairs must be completed before current stockpiles run out to prevent a monopoly and maintain a steady product supply.
3. Preventing Monopoly: On-time completion will help ensure market competition, benefitting both consumers and the economy.
4. Task Force Setup: PETROAN recommends that the Minister of Petroleum establish a task force made up of Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum members to oversee the repair process.
5. Weekly Progress Briefs: The task force should provide weekly updates to Nigerians to promote transparency and accountability throughout the 30-day repair schedule.
6. Prompt Payments to Contractors: Contractors involved in the repairs should be paid on time to avoid delays and ensure the project remains on schedule.

PETROAN reiterated its commitment to working with NNPCL and relevant authorities to ensure that the refinery becomes fully operational within the stipulated time, helping to alleviate fuel scarcity and stabilize the petroleum market in Nigeria.