The Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has confirmed the loading of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol from the Port Harcourt refinery.
PETROAN joined the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, team during the commissioning of the refinery on Tuesday.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Media Talk Africa, the Rivers State Chairman of PETROAN, Francis Dimkpa, expressed optimism that sustained crude oil production at the Port Harcourt refinery could significantly improve the distribution of petroleum products and reduce the price of petrol.
Dimkpa also disclosed that currently, only NNPCL petrol trucks are loading at the refinery.
He noted that PETROAN will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to strategize on the loading process and the way forward for broader distribution.
The association further appealed to the federal government to maintain the refineryā€™s functionality and extend such efforts to other critical areas of governance.
The NNPCL, on Tuesday suddenly announced that the Port Harcourt refinery has commenced crude oil production.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this on Tuesday, stating that the refinery has kicked off with 60 percent capacity.
The Presidency had also revealed that about 200 trucks are set to load petroleum products at the refinery.
Presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, disclosed this in a statement on his official X handle.
