The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria has commended the Federal Government, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for keeping the revamped Port Harcourt refinery running continuously for 180 days.
The refinery, which had been dormant for over 20 years, was revamped with a loan secured from Afreximbank and executed by Tecnimont Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the Maire Tecnimont Group. It was relaunched for operations in November 2024.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joseph Obele, PETROAN commended Tecnimont Nigeria Limited for their professionalism and expertise in delivering a world-class rehabilitation project. The association also commended the host communities for their cooperation and support during rehabilitation.
It added, “PETROAN is pleased to note that its members are currently loading diesel and kerosene from the refinery, while NNPCL retail marketers are loading PMS. This development has not only ensured a steady supply of petroleum products but has also helped to eliminate the circulation of fake kerosene and diesel in the market.”
The association commended Ibrahim Onoja, the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, for his commitment to overseeing the successful rehabilitation and continued operation of the refinery. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority also received recognition for its crucial regulatory oversight and support, ensuring the refinery operates safely and efficiently.