PHC Refinery Row: NNPCL dismisses allegations of fabricated restreaming

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), on Friday, launched a scathing attack on Timothy Mgbere, a self-proclaimed “community person,” over his claims that the recently celebrated restreaming of the Port Harcourt Refinery was fabricated.

NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, in a press release, described Mgbere’s assertions as “ignorant and unfounded.”

Mgbere had alleged that the refinery was not producing new petroleum products but rather relying on old stock that had been stored for over three years. He also claimed that the refinery was only operating skeletally and was not processing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

However, Soneye dismissed these claims as baseless misinformation, stating that the refinery has been integrated with a single terminal for product load-out and shares common utilities like power and storage tanks.

“The Old and New Port Harcourt Refineries have since been integrated with one single terminal for product load-out. They share common utilities like power and storage tanks. This means that storage tanks and loading gantry which he claimed belongs to the New Port-Harcourt Refinery can also receive products from the Old Port Harcourt Refinery,” Soneye explained.

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Mgbere’s claims had sparked widespread controversy, with many questioning the authenticity of the refinery’s restreaming. However, Soneye reiterated that the state-owned oil company stands by its achievements and urged the public to disregard Mgbere’s claims.

“We call on the general public to disregard the claims of the self-acclaimed ‘community person’ which are obviously borne out of sheer mischief and blatant display of ignorance.”

The controversy surrounding the Port Harcourt Refinery has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. As the country continues to grapple with fuel scarcity and economic challenges, it is essential that stakeholders prioritize honesty and integrity in their operations.

In a recent interview, Mgbere had alleged that the refinery’s restreaming was a staged event, designed to deceive Nigerians. He claimed that the products loaded during the ceremony were not freshly refined outputs from a newly rejuvenated refinery but old stock that had languished in storage tanks for over three years.

Mgbere’s revelations have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.

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