Just three days after resuming activities, the Port Harcourt Refining Company has suddenly halted operations.
As of Friday, there were no operations on site, with some workers suggesting the refinery was undergoing calibration, which is expected to last until next week.
The Port Harcourt Refinery has experienced numerous delays and missed deadlines for resuming operations. However, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, inaugurated the new plant at the Area 5 terminal on Tuesday.
Reports indicated that 200 petrol trucks were being loaded daily from the plant, but this was met with skepticism as rumors circulated that the trucks were filled with old products from storage tanks.
At the Area 5 terminal, no signs of activity were evident. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the loaded trucks contained “dead stock.”
This “dead stock” consisted of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and Automated Gas Oil (diesel) that remained in the tanks before the refinery’s shutdown between 2015 and 2016.
The official noted that the large quantity of refined petrol was “off-spec,” necessitating the separation of water to extract the preferred product colors.
He further explained that the refinery was operating manually, unlike modern refineries worldwide, which use electronic systems that can keep pace with today’s digital pumps.
Meanwhile, instead of an influx of trucks, the number has dwindled. Most workers and drivers appeared idle, with no machinery in operation.
When asked about the lack of loading activity, a worker in overalls said, “They are de-watering, removing the water from the PMS. Maybe there will be loading after that, but we don’t know when.”
Another worker at the loading bay mentioned that calibration was causing the delay, stating, “They are calibrating the meters.”
A source indicated that calibration would continue until Monday, with loading of DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel) expected to commence then.
