By Damilare Adeleye
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has refuted claims that the newly rehabilitated Old Port Harcourt Refinery has stopped operation.
The rebuttal followed a claim allegedly made by a member of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), who disclosed that the lifting of petrol has stopped in the plant as of 13 December, 2024.
He reportedly stated that there was hope that the production would recommence by Monday, 23 December, 2024.“I can confirm to you that there has been no petrol lifting activity at the plant since last week, 13th December.
“Tanker drivers are at the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery waiting until Monday. Maybe petrol lifting will recommence,” the anonymous source was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Saturday, the NNPC Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, debunked the claim, dismissing it as totally false.
He asserted that the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.
“Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.
“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.”
