PETROAN to NNPC: Repair PH refinery on time, delay may worsen economic hardship

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to adhere to the scheduled 30-day repair timeline of the old Port Harcourt refinery shutdown.

In a statement on Sunday, Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s spokesperson, said Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN’s president, said quick repairs will minimise petroleum products supply disruptions.

“PETROAN fears that the 30-day schedule might not be realistic due to usual bottlenecks, potentially leading to further delays and exacerbating supply challenges,” Obele said.

“The association is worried that delays in the old refinery’s 30-day rehabilitation schedule may worsen economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.”

The NNPC announced the shutdown on Saturday and said the scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment would begin on May 24 and last for 30 days.

PETROAN’S DEMANDS FOR TASK FORCE, PREVENT MONOPOLY

Obele said the association’s demands include preventing monopoly, PMS blending unit inclusion, a task force, weekly progress briefs, and prompt payment to contractors.

“Inclusion of PMS Blending Unit: PETROAN emphasizes that the repair process must include the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit, as the crude oil cracking process is of no value without it,” he said.

“Timely Completion: PETROAN demands that NNPCL complete the repair before existing stocks run dry to prevent market monopolisation and ensure a stable supply of petroleum products.

“Preventing Monopoly: Completing the repair on time will help maintain competition in the market, benefiting consumers and the economy.

“Task Force Setup: PETROAN recommends that the Honourable Minister of Petroleum sets up a task force comprising all Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum to monitor the 30-day repairs.

“Weekly Progress Briefs: The task force should brief Nigerians on the job progress every weekend to ensure transparency and accountability in achieving the 30-day repair schedule.”

The spokesperson added that PETROAN recommends that payments to contractors handling the repairs be made promptly to avoid delays and ensure the project stays on track.