Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has applauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, over its planned outsourcing of the operations and maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery to private firms, describing it as a positive development.
Recall that NNPC Ltd had called for expression of interest from qualified and reputable operations and maintenance companies, for the provision of operations and maintenance services for the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC.
According to NNPC Ltd, the need to engage private firms to operate and maintain the Port Harcourt Refinery, was to ensure reliability and sustainability towards meeting the nation’s fuel supply and energy security obligations.
Reacting to the development, PETROAN explained that the move by NNPC Ltd to have private companies operate and maintain the revamped Port Harcourt refinery will not only be profitable, but will have economic value for the country and the host communities.
Rivers State Chairman of PETROAN, Mr Francis Dimkpa said with the Port Harcourt refinery and Dangote refinery coming on stream, there will be the availability of refined petroleum products and possible reduction in the pump price of petroleum products in the country.
He said, “It is a welcome development for a consortium or private individuals to run the refurbished Port Harcourt refinery, under a PPE arrangement.
“Look at how Indorama Petrochemicals is functioning optimally, that is what we have been advocating that the Port Harcourt refinery should be made to run in that way so that it will be profitable, have economic power for the people, nation and host communities as well as generate employment with sustainability value.
“Nigerians should expect two things, availability of petroleum products and possible reduction in the pump price of petroleum products, or appropriate pricing of petroleum products in the nation.
“We are convinced that by economic indices of the two refineries (Dangote and Port Harcourt refinery) coming on stream, there would be a possibility of reduction in the pump price of petroleum products,” PETROAN said.
