The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has described the recent shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) as a face-saving measure, stating that the facility had not been producing petrol for months before the announcement.
Speaking with reporters, IPMAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, said the refinery had been inactive for about three months, making the shutdown announcement by NNPC on Saturday inconsequential to the current state of the Nigerian petrol market.
Echoing similar concerns, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) criticized the closure, noting that without the completion of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit, the plant remains ineffective. The group also dismissed the possibility of completing ongoing repairs within 30 days.
Both associations questioned the refinery’s operational value in its current state and raised doubts about the urgency and transparency of NNPC’s decision.
