Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has confirmed the production of petroleum products at the newly fixed Port Harcourt refinery, stating that it is currently churning out petroleum products at 70 per cent of its capacity in readiness to ramp up to 90 per cent soon.

The Association urged anyone or group that is in doubt of the refinery’s operations to contact the NNPC Ltd for a facility tour rather than spread misinformation, noting that the company had taken some stakeholders and Journalists to the plant for a first hand assessment.

In a statement signed by its national Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele, titled:’Halt the Rumours:Port Harcourt Old Refinery is up and Running, Producing By-products of Crude Oil’ the Association praised Mele Kyari and his team for reviving a refinery that was moribund for about 21 years.

The statement read: “The National Headquarters of PETROAN is compelled to set the records straight. WE state emphatically that the Old Port Harcourt refinery is functional and producing refined Petroleum products at the moment. On Tuesday 26th November 2024, The top Management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) led by Engr Mele Kyari took stakeholders and journalist to the plant in view of having a first hand information and to see things themselves.

“The old Port Harcourt refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent. This is contrary to the speculations that the revamped and celebrated Refinery is a mere blending plant and unproductive as circulated by most naysayer.

“As part of PETROAN’s oversight function as key stakeholders, we have direct access to the plant on the authorization of management and we will encourage whoever is doubting the functional status of the plant to contact NNPC management for facility tour rather than spreading misleading information. It is more important to state here that the functional plant at operation is the old refinery with the capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, while the new port Harcourt refinery with the capacity of 200,000 barrels per day is still under rehabilitation which is due to commence production soon as announced by the management of NNPCL.

“Both Refineries are within the same complex at Alesa Eleme in Rivers State The old Port Harcourt refinery which was built in the year 1965 stopped production over 21 years ago, while the new Port Harcourt refinery stopped production in the year 2019. Further confirmation for the authenticity of production at the Port Harcourt refinery was verified by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources under the able leadership of Distinguished Sen. S A Kawu Sumaila, OFR Ph.D in conjunction with stakeholders and members of the host community.

“The senate Committee was on fact-finding/investigation on Thursday 28th November 2024 at the Port Harcourt refinery and depot at Alesa Eleme to see things themselves. The senate committee saw the plant functional and Petroleum trucks loading at the Port Harcourt refinery depot.

“It is worth noting that PETROAN National leadership led by the national President Dr Billy Hary were in attendance at the senate committee visitation at the Port Harcourt refinery to welcome the committee and express PETROAN’S willingness to commence loading at the Port Harcourt refinery.

“PETROAN opined that the appropriate thing at the moment is to commend the team of NNPCL management led by Engr Mele Kyari that was able to revive a plant that has been moribund, deplorable and dormant for over 21 years .

“PETROAN hereby appraise the scorecard of Engr Mele Kyari as Excellent performance for the reviving a refinery plant which was abandoned for 21 years when he wasn’t the NNPC boss PETROAN is optimistic that the Nigeria vision is achievable and hereby call on Nigerians to be patriotic by believing in the renewed hope agenda of Mr President. Nigeria will work again. Regarding the price, NNPC Retail Ltd has officially announced the PMS price at the Port Harcourt refinery as #1,030 per litre.”

The Association said it was studying the pricing to ensure their members got a fair deal particularly as the yuletide was round the corner. It worried about the state of the roads that lead to the refinery urging the federal government to fix them, adding that the privatisation of the nation’s refineries was a welcome development.

“It was also communicated to PETROAN that the product request portal was open for for booking /request. Meanwhile PETROAN strategic pricing team are currently analysing the most favourable price for her members as we are open to patronising all the refineries in Nigeria. PETROAN also emplores that NNPC Retail Ltd should further reduce the price in view of giving Nigerians a blissful Yuletide celebration.

“Finally, PETROAN supports the proposed planned Privatisation of the nation owned refineries in a no distance time in such a manner that is credible and transparent after which the plant should be handled over to a reputable private firm with the financial capability and technical knowledge.

“Most worrisome as a threat to lives and properties is the ugly condition of the Eleme East west road. The road poses serious threat to Petroleum trucks that will be conveying flammable products from the refinery depots. PETROAN encourages the Federal Ministry of Works under which the project was awarded to RCC to facilitate the ongoing repairs of the road.”

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has advocated for Nigeria to focus on non-oil exports to drive economic growth, insisting that oil-based economy would not take the country out of the current economic quagmire.