▪️ $1.5 bn loan-funded rehabilitation: refinery delivers zero litre as minister, NNPC flaunt mechanical completion
▪️ Platforms Africa ends countdown amidst commendations
The 60,000 barrels capacity Port Harcourt Refinery is not ready as promised. The asset has not produced a litre of petrol as of 12:09 am, today, the first of January, 2024, minutes after the December 2023 deadline promised by the officials to deliver it, Platforms Africa reports authoritatively.
This reputable media group flagged off on November 29, a countdown on the promised December 2023 deadine to deliver the asset, and had closely monitored development on the asset originally built by the government of Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1965.
Though the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, earlier flaunted what they called the mechanical completion of the refinery, it was gathered that no litre of petrol has been delivered after Christmas as the duo promised.
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Lokpobiri, who, during an event at the refinery site on December 21, told Nigerians of such mechanical completion, added that the plant would be expected to produce Petroleum products anytime after Christmas.
“I am happy that we have delivered,” he said unequivocally.
Platforms Africa reports that while frantic efforts are still ongoing at the site, the refinery could not produce after Christmas, a news that stirred mixed reactions from Nigerians.
Mixed grill: ‘Another Lie Detected’ ‘Effort Deserving of Encouragement’
While some expressed disappointment, others said that the government, though couldn’t meet up with the deadline, should be encouraged for daring to deliver.
A renowned oil and gas policy analyst, Akin Fatunke, who described what the government called the mechanical completion of Port Harcourt refinery as another lie detected, said that he was disappointed with the way officials were playing on the intelligence of Nigerians.
“What is mechanical completion? What we know is that the refinery is not ready and has not produced a barrel of crude as we speak.
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“While it is not wrong to set a deadline, strive to meet up, and fail, everything is wrong for you not to come out clean to tell the people the truth,” he said in a Mainland FM programme monitored by Platforms Africa in Lagos.
His view was corroborated by Adebayo Alamutu, a Petroleum engineer, who said the refinery still has about three months before it could deliver.
“Mechanical completion may be true, but that does not mean that the asset is ready and/or delivered as promised.
“It takes more than mechanical component to deliver a refinery and as we speak we may need to be looking at the next three months. A typical example is the Dangote refinery, which was commissioned since May 2023.
“I think the minister and GCEO NNPC have used that expression to shield themself from criticism, whereas there is nothing wrong with criticism in a democracy. The government should be encouraged to set a deadline and for daring to meet up with it.
Platforms Africa Stands Out
Commending Platforms Africa for the countdown, which it began as far as November 29, 2023, Alamutu said that other media groups should take a que from the organisation.
Team lead of the media group, Adeola Yusuf, had, on TVC Nigeria Breakfast Show, and on News Central TV programme, announced the flag off of the countdown on the deadline promised by officials to deliver the refinery.
“Platforms Africa has done a great service to Nigeria with the countdown. Many of us will not forget that singular effort from a media group with a difference,” he said.
Why the hues on PH Refinery?
The Port Harcourt refinery is expected to cushion the effect of fuel prices in the domestic market as promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the removal of subsidy, but the risen hope appears to be fading gradually as the refinery is yet to begin production.
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Sequel to the promise by the president that the facility would be rehabilitated and begin production before the end of the year 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announced the mechanical completion on December 20th, while the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, promised that it would begin production after Christmas.
Who said what? Tinubu, Lokpobiri, Kyari’s Promise of December Deadline
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, had on December 20, 2023, announced the completion of the rehabilitation of the refinery, disclosing that the facility would resume production of petroleum products after Christmas.
He said, “This is just to announce to Nigerians that in fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream phase 1 of the PH refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase 2 in 2024, we heartily announce the mechanical completion and flare up of the refinery on the 20th of December 2023. This heralds the commencement of production of petroleum products after the Christmas break.”
Kyari confirms that Port Harcourt refinery will start working in December
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has confirmed that the Port Harcourt refinery will start working in December 2023.
Kyari made the confirmation on Thursday during his meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
– The Guardian, November 24, 2023
Port Harcourt refinery to commence operations December — Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday night, assured the leaders of the organised labour that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations by December 2023.
_ Platforms Africa, August 2, 2023
Platforms Africa
