The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is under scrutiny following its announcement that the Port Harcourt Refinery had commenced operations after years of inactivity.
The claim, made on November 26, has sparked skepticism and criticism from stakeholders, energy experts, and members of the refinery’s host community in Alesa, Rivers State.
Timothy Mgbere, Secretary of Alesa Stakeholders and a former NNPC staff member, has joined the dissenting voices to cast doubt on the refinery’s operational status. Speaking on Arise News, Mgbere accused the NNPCL of exaggerating its progress.
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“I will give them the credit that at least they have started something. But not to say that according to the chief head of corporate communication of the NNPC Ltd, they have put it on the media that they are already producing 1,400,000 barrels per day. That’s not the case. That’s not true.”
He also criticized the company for failing to involve traditional chiefs in the announcement, alleging that NNPCL was under pressure to project an image of success. According to Mgbere, the refinery’s performance on Tuesday was lackluster, with only four trucks loaded throughout the day.
He described the process as far from the capacity and efficiency expected of a refinery claimed to be operating at 70% of its installed capacity.
“I don’t want to use the word lie, but as an agency that is holding the oil industry in trust for Nigerians, they shouldn’t put out some of this information that is not true. The true picture of what happened on Tuesday is that the NNPCL has been under pressure to televise to Nigerians that everything is okay and then that the old refinery has started functioning,” he said.
NNPCL had earlier announced that the refinery was operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to load 200 trucks daily. However, Mgbere raised concerns about the credibility of this claim.
“Manual system loads a truck for about 45 minutes. So fully automated, fully rehabilitated, and then you tell us it’s 70 percent operational, and then you’re loading four trucks for the whole day. One truck staying under the loading gantry for more than six to seven hours?” He questioned.
Energy expert, Kelvin Emmanuel, who has been vocal, pointing out that the refinery is not producing, shared these concerns. He accused NNPCL of using off-spec products imported into the country to create the illusion of refinery operations.
“I am still in shock. This man lied to an entire nation— Good God! Set up a blending plant like you’ve in Malta for off-spec PMS and Lòme for Diesel, and then called it a refinery. The apprentice the devil raised is now better than the master,” Emmanuel said.
“Area 5 does not have a functional crude processing unit as we speak. So there’s no way in hell you can produce propane or pms, except of course you are blending the petroleum resins or naphtha with the off-spec Ron 94 that landed at Okirika Jetty within the last 60-days,” he said.
However, Fredrick Nwabufo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, claimed that he witnessed the refinery 70 percent operational, further muddying the waters.
Energy experts and stakeholders have urged the NNPCL to be transparent about the refinery’s status. Nick Agule, an energy analyst, emphasized the need for independent verification.
“To be honest, for me, I would like more clarity. The NNPCL needs to take journalists into this plant. They need to show journalists exactly what they are doing so that these journalists can come back to us as Nigerians and say, yes, indeed, we have seen that refining processes have convinced us that the old protocol refinery and these are the products that are being produced,” he said.
The skepticism has also been fueled by allegations from members insiders that trucks shown in NNPCL’s promotional videos were merely evacuating old stock rather than transporting newly refined products.
Decades of Failures and Unmet Promises
The Port Harcourt Refinery has been plagued by decades of inactivity and failed rehabilitation efforts. Under former President Muhammadu Buhari, multiple deadlines to restore the refinery’s operations were missed.
The most recent promises, set for October 2024 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, appeared to be fulfilled with the recent announcement. However, the ongoing controversy raises questions about whether the announcement was prematurely made to calm the dust of curiosity swirling around NNPCL’s promises.
The refinery’s revival is crucial for reducing Nigeria’s dependency on imported fuel. Despite being one of the world’s largest crude oil producers, Nigeria imports most of its refined petroleum products due to its underperforming refineries.
Public trust in NNPCL is waning as allegations of misinformation and inadequate performance mount. Many Nigerians, already burdened by soaring fuel costs, had hoped that a functional Port Harcourt Refinery would offer relief. The revelation that the refinery may not be fully operational has dampened those expectations.
While NNPCL insists that operations are underway, stakeholders are demanding concrete proof of progress. The government has been called upon to address these concerns promptly to restore public confidence and ensure that the refinery achieves its stated goals of boosting local fuel production.