Kehinde Fajobi
The restart of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery has been met with positive reactions from oil marketers, who see it as a step toward reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited confirmed the refinery’s reopening, with trucks now transporting petrol, diesel, and kerosene from the facility.
NNPC’s Group CEO, Mele Kyari, celebrated the achievement as a major milestone for Nigeria, highlighting its potential to drive energy independence and foster economic growth.
Kyari expressed appreciation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continued support of the refinery’s rehabilitation, as well as for the NNPC’s Board of Directors, staff, and contractors for their hard work in overcoming challenges to complete the project.
Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), welcomed the refinery’s resumption, calling it “great news” for both the country and the industry, Vanguard reports.
However, Shettima mentioned that marketers are waiting for the NNPC to announce the pricing for the refined products, which will guide their next actions.
“We feel very happy, and it is good news for everybody. But we cannot say much. We will wait for NNPC to disclose the price it will sell its products, and that will determine how marketers will react,” he said.