Contrary to the fanfare that greeted the resumption of activities at the Port Harcourt Refining Company on Tuesday, a visit to the refinery on Friday revealed that there was no activity on site. Workers at the refinery claimed that the facility was undergoing calibration, which might last till next week.
The refinery, which has faced numerous delays and missed deadlines, had reportedly resumed operations, with 200 petrol trucks loading daily.
However, reports emerged that the trucks were loaded with old products from storage tanks.
A visit to the refinery’s Area 5 terminal revealed no signs of activity, with workers appearing idle and machinery non-operational. When questioned, a worker attributed the delay to ongoing calibration, which was expected to continue until Monday.
The development has sparked skepticism among Nigerians, with many expressing doubts about the refinery’s ability to meet its production targets. The Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria attributed the delay to calibration, stating that the process would be completed by the end of the day.
The NNPC has denied claims that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing fuel, accusing a community leader of “crass ignorance” of how a refinery operates. The controversy surrounding the refinery’s operations has raised concerns about the government’s ability to revive the country’s ailing refineries.
