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Oil marketers have caused concern for what they describe as “slow speed” repair work at the old Harcourt port.
The refinery was closed on May 24 for the scheduled 30 -day maintenance.
Chairman of the Zonal Association of Retail Retail Petroleum Retail Association Nigeria Association (Petroan) 2E System (Eastern Zone), Sunny NKPE, revealed this in a statement on Monday
The statement followed the visit of stakeholders to the facility.
NKPE accused that Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bashir Ojulari, has not visited the refinery since the office assumptions four months ago.
“The contractor regretted that they were in debt for more than 12 months without funds. All were set for the old Harcourt port refinery to start production, because repairs to cracking plants and integrated units 12 and unit 14 were almost complete before the new NNPCL GCEO did not give a commitment and showed a lack of interest,” the statement was read.
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NKPE further accused that the delay seemed to support the private refineries, giving them a competitive monopoly and enables them to impose “outrageous” prices for petroleum products.
He said the consultation was ongoing with stakeholders to determine further actions.
He identified those affected by the unactivated state of refineries to include the branch of the industrial motor (IMB) from the Nigerian Petroleum and Gas Workers Union (Nupeng), the Petroleum Tanker Unit (PTD) from Nupeng, Nigeria, and Nigu -Nigeria (Nigon), Nigore Nigeng, Nigera, Nigu -Nigu -Nigu.
“Thousands of tanker drivers do not work, along with Petroan and Ipman staff. We must approve legitimate options to call for the revival of the Port Harcourt refinery,” he said.
“The refinery is very important for the Nigerian petroleum supply chain, serving big cities such as ABA, Enugu, and Makurdi, among others.”
