*The Eleme and Okrika communities hosting the Port-Harcourt Refinery Company, in Rivers State decry the recent shutdown of the refinery by NNPC Limited, describing the action as ‘sabotage’ against the interest of energy consumers and Nigerians at large

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to the recent shutdown of the oil-refining facility, the Eleme and Okrika communities, which host the Port-Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), in Rivers State, have decried the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) action.

Earlier, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPCL, in a recent statement, had announced the company shut the Port-Harcourt Refinery facility for its “scheduled maintenance” and “sustainability assessment”.

绿帽献妻 reports the two host communities, under the aegis of HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers of the Port Harcourt Refinery, at a media briefing, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, however, said they were particularly miffed over how the NNPCL shut the Port-Harcourt Refinery recently.

The NNPC Limited announced the completion of rehabilitation of the facility a few months, and openly celebrated same in the downstream petroleum sector.

Marketers: PHRC shutdown an ‘act of sabotage’ against national interest

The host communities, however, suspected the shutdown of the PHRC to be an act of sabotage against the interest of Nigerian energy consumers.

They also expressed surprise at the refining company’s shutdown narrative.

The communities also claimed that even prior to the NNPCL’s announcement of the closure, there had been “no significant progress in refinery operations”.

The Eleme and Okrika communities further questioned the rationale behind shutting down a refinery that had yet to function at full capacity, less than a year after it supposedly “resumed operations”.

According to them, the latest shutdown of Port-Harcourt Refinery was 鈥渙rchestrated鈥� to give undue advantage to a private refinery.

They also warned 鈥渋f such happens,鈥� Nigerian consumers might pay “as much as N2,000 per litre of petrol.鈥�

NNPCL urged to adhere to 30-day refinery maintenance timeline, or鈥�. 聽

Speaking at the media briefing in Port-Harcourt, Sunny Nkpe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers, urged the NNPCL to adhere to the 30-day timeline they have given for maintenance, or else the communities would hold them accountable, if the refinery stops operations.

Nkpe expressed deep concern that the shutdown may not be temporary as officially stated, but part of a larger plot to create a monopoly in crude oil-refining in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers also said the decision to halt crude supply to the shut refinery has sparked suspicions within the host communities and industry stakeholders.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to immediately appoint a substantive Managing Director with strong technical expertise to oversee the refinery鈥檚 operations, and to ensure timely completion of the ongoing revamp.

He further stated: 鈥淭his refinery started steaming around October last year, and it was the reason we gave our massive support.

“They say they are shutting down for repairs. We don鈥檛 believe any repairs are taking place.”

He warned “we believe it is an attempt to shut it down like Warri and other refineries, so we are requesting that the 30 days鈥� shutdown be strictly adhered to, else the public would hold them responsible, the host communities would hold them responsible if anything goes wrong.”

Nkpe said: 鈥淲e are requesting the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, to quickly appoint a new Managing Director for the refinery, so that the rehabilitation can go smoothly and set goals achieved.鈥�

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers as well demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Bayo Akinrule, Coordinator of the Port-Harcourt Refinery for alleged sabotage at the oil-refining facility.

Nkpe particularly accused the PHRC Coordinator of frustrating President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 reform agenda in the downstream petroleum sector of the economy.

However, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers expressed confidence in the contractor company handling the turnaround maintenance of the refinery.

He yet urged the Federal Government through the NNPC Limited, to provide sufficient funding to enable faster progress in regard to the state oil company’s announced “scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment”.

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