The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to adhere wstrictly to the 30-day repair schedule for the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, warning that any delay could worsen the country’s already fragile fuel supply situation.
According to PETROAN’s Nationals President, Billy Gillis-Harry, acknowledged the necessity of the refinery shutdown for maintenance but expressed concern over the potential for delays due to what it described as “usual bottlenecks”. “The scheduled 30-day maintenance must be taken seriously. Any slippage could deepen economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.
“To ensure the refinery’s prompt rehabilitation, PETROAN outlined several key demands:
Inclusion of PMS Blending Unit: The association insists the repair works must include the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit, noting that crude oil cracking is ineffective without it.
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Timely Completion: PETROAN stressed the importance of completing repairs before current fuel stocks are exhausted to prevent disruptions in supply and avoid market manipulation.
Preventing Monopoly: It warned that delays could lead to monopolization of the market, which would negatively impact fuel prices and availability.
Establishment of a Stakeholder Task Force: PETROAN called on the Minister of Petroleum to set up a task force comprising members of the Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum to oversee the 30-day repair process.
Weekly Progress Updates: The association recommended that the task force provide weekly briefings to Nigerians on the progress of the repairs to promote transparency and accountability.
Prompt Payment to Contractors: PETROAN also emphasized the need for timely payments to contractors handling the project to avoid unnecessary delays.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant authorities to ensure that the refinery is brought back to full operational capacity within the stipulated timeframe.
