November 30, 2024
By Idris Buba
Barely three days after resuming production, the Port Harcourt Refining Company has suddenly halted operations.
Checks, revealed that as at Friday, there were no operations on site, with some workers suggesting the refinery was undergoing calibration, which is expected to last until next week.
It would be recalled that the Port Harcourt Refinery had experienced numerous delays and postponed deadlines to commence operations. However, on Tuesday November 26, 2024 without prior notice, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, inaugurated the new plant at the Area 5 terminal.
There were indications that 200 petrol trucks were loaded daily from the plant, that was met with skepticism as rumors circulated that the trucks were filled with old products from storage tanks.
READ MORE; Marketers Threaten To Boycott P’Harcourt Refinery As NNPCL Juggles Petrol Price
With evidence that there was no activity at Area 5 terminal, an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the loaded trucks contained what he termed “dead stock.”
This “dead stock” consisted of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and Automated Gas Oil (diesel) that remained in the tanks before the refinery’s shutdown between 2015 and 2016.
According to the official, the large quantity of refined petrol was “off-spec,” necessitating the separation of water to extract the preferred product colors.
READ MORE; BREAKING: At Last Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Operation
He explained that the refinery was operating manually, unlike modern refineries worldwide, which use electronic systems that can keep pace with today’s digital pumps.
On the lack of loading activity, a worker in coverall said, “They are de-watering, removing the water from the PMS. Maybe there will be loading after that, but we don’t know when.”
Another worker at the loading bay mentioned that calibration was causing the delay, stating, “They are calibrating the meters. Which another source indicated would continue until Monday, with likely additional loading of DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel) expected to commence on that day.
