The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has expressed deep concern over the persistent delays in the complete rehabilitation of the 210,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt Refinery, Warri Refinery, and Kaduna Refinery.

An official statement, the Association said that despite numerous assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and its officials, the projects have suffered repeated setbacks, with completion deadlines being missed multiple times.

?While we acknowledge and applaud the commencement of the Old Port Harcourt refinery with the capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, we cannot stress enough the urgent need for commissioning, transparency and accountability of the second Port Harcourt Refinery with the capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, the Warri refinery and the Kaduna Refinery,? the statement read.

PETROAN has demanded that the NNPC provide a specific and realistic timeline for the completion and commissioning of these refineries, especially the second Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project.

The statement read: ?The Second Port Harcourt refinery, when completed, will serve the whole of system 2E, comprising about 13 states. This will reduce the cost of logistics/transportation of petroleum products from Lagos to the system 2E areas. The current cost of transportation is highly exorbitant and affects the affordability of petroleum products in System 2E areas.

?Nigerians and stakeholders want to know the exact date of delivery of the revamp project. The Nigerian people deserve clarity on when they can expect the refineries to commence operations and contribute to alleviating the nation?s fuel scarcity challenges.

?We call on the relevant authorities to ensure that the NNPC adheres strictly to the contract timeline, once provided, and maintains regular communication with stakeholders on the project?s progress.?

Given the worrisome nature of these delays and their far-reaching implications for the nation?s economy and welfare, PETROAN called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by setting up a high-level facilitating panel.

According to the association, this panel should comprise relevant stakeholders, including representatives from NMDPRA, NUPRC, NNPC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN, MEMAN, DAPPMAN, PETROAN, and other industry experts, to identify bottlenecks, provide solutions, and ensure the project?s timely completion.

Billy Gillis Harry, the National President of PETROAN, stated in Abuja while addressing newsmen that the commencement of operations at the 210,000 barrels per day capacity refinery at Alesa Eleme, the 125,000 barrels Warri refinery, and the 110,000 barrels per day Kaduna Refinery will improve Nigeria?s petroleum sufficiency and positively impact price stability. However, he lamented that the project is running behind schedule.

?The continuous delay in the completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project and other refinery projects is unacceptable, and Nigerians deserve to know when the projects will be completed. The huge amount borrowed for the projects should be a serious concern to all citizens, and we will demand accountability for every naira spent on this project.?

PETROAN commended President Tinubu for appointing Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO of NNPC, calling on the new NNPC helmsman to see this glorious appointment as a call to national duty and put in his best to save the industry.

PETROAN noted that the current vacancy in the office of the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery could be a significant barrier to the project?s progress.

?We strongly recommend that the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC appoint a substantive Managing Director for the Port Harcourt Refinery in the shortest possible time.

?This appointment would provide the necessary leadership and direction to drive the project forward and ensure its timely completion. The prolonged delay in the refinery?s completion not only undermines the nation?s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum products but also exacerbates the economic hardship millions of Nigerians face. It is imperative that decisive action is taken to bring this project to fruition without further delay,? the statement read. (BusinessDay)

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