Dr. Billy Giles-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), said he believes the Port-Harcourt refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, will commence production “in the coming days, ..not weeks“, while the Warri refinery is nearing 90% completion.
He made the assertions during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Saturday, August 10.
Giles-Harry shared that his team had the opportunity to inspect all three refineries – two in Port Harcourt and one in Warri, to assess the extent of rehabilitation work done. He expressed confidence in the efforts of the Nigerian government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Managing Director of the Warri refinery and commended them for the progress achieved.
The PETROAN boss said they observed that the two refineries in Port-Harcourt had undergone extensive upgrades over the past several months, including replacing major components such as pipelines, electronics, and electrical systems. The smaller of the two refineries in Port Harcourt, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, is already operational, providing hope that refined fuel from the facility will soon enter the market, helping to alleviate the persistent supply disruptions in the country.
”Right now, we are talking just about the 60,000 barrels, and at least, if that comes on board, we should be able to have petroleum products in the country that should assuage these consistent supply glitches that we are experiencing”, he said.
The larger refinery, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, is undergoing urgent repairs as well, with additional components already being installed, he claimed.
Private-Sector Management Preferred
Giles-Harry stressed the need for a new business model for refinery operations in Nigeria, advocating for a shift away from government-only management. “We must have a new business model for how our refineries operate. We should not leave it strictly to the government, and the government should work out a new business model where the private sector is directly involved.”
He also praised President Bola Tinubu‘s efforts, saying the days of allowing unpatriotic individuals to hinder Nigeria’s progress are over.
PETROAN, “the most critical last mile of the industry,” according to Giles-Harry, is committed to ensuring that the refineries are returned online and maintained, regardless of the challenges involved.
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