There are indications that the state-owned Port Harcourt Refinery has stopped operation again less than a month after its rehabilitation.
A member of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this to Media Talk Africa on Saturday upon inquiry.
He confirmed that the lifting of petrol has stopped in the plant as of 13 December, 2024.
He, however, stated that there is hope that the production would recommence by Monday, 23 December, 2024.
“I can confirm to you that there has been no petrol lifting activity at the plant since last week, 13th December.
“Tanker drivers are at the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery waiting until Monday. Maybe petrol lifting will recommence,” he told Media Talk Africa.
Media Talk Africa contacted the spokesperson of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Olufemi Soneye, on Saturday morning on the development, but he is yet to respond to the inquiry.
NNPC, on 26 November, announced that petrol lifting has commenced at the Port Harcourt refinery after it gulped $1.5 billion, which was approved in 2021 for its rehabilitation.
The development was greeted with both optimism and pessimism.
NNPC had announced that over 200 trucks loaded petrol from the facility.
However, contrary claims emerged that only 10 trucks lifted petrol on the inauguration day.
There were claims also that the petrol products lifted on the inauguration day were old stocks.
However, NNPC denied it.
