By Lucky Isibor
A Port Harcourt based social rights crusader, Comrade Koloko Gbemre has warned one Timothy Egbere to stop disparaging the operations of the newly refurbished Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as he did last Thursday, 28 November in an Arise Television interview; noting that the said interview was rife with inaccuracies and malicious intent deliberately fabricated to undermine the achievements of the NNPCL in the rehabilitation of the PHRC.
In a statement signed by Koloko Gbemre and made available to Newscurve24, the social rights crusader pointed out that Egbere is not representing the Alesa Stakeholders Group as he allegedly claimed in his Arise Television interview under reference, adding that his statement is meant to correct the alleged falsehood he churned out to members of the public in the said interview.
According to the statement, “The interview granted by Mr. Timothy Egbere, purportedly representing the Alesa Stakeholders Group, on Arise Television on November 28, 2024, was rife with inaccuracies and malicious intent to undermine the credibility of the recent achievements at the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC).
“It is imperative to address and correct these falsehoods to protect the integrity of the refinery’s operations and the hard work of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) in delivering on its promises to Nigerians.
“First, Mr. Egbere’s claim that there are multiple terminals or depots for the load out of products at PHRC is categorically false. There is only one single terminal/depot designated for loading products. This depot is located within PHRC and has no operational ties to OPHR or NPHR, as Mr. Egbere falsely asserted.Additionally, the products are moved through a well-defined process: from main storage tanks to product tanks for fiscalization before being transported via pipelines to the Nigeria Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC) depot. There, they are loaded into trucks using gantry and loading arms. This efficient system starkly contrasts with Mr. Egbere’s misleading narrative, which sought to confuse the public about the refinery’s operations.
“Secondly, the assertion that PHRC has separate gantries for old and new refineries is both inaccurate and indicative of a lack of understanding of refinery operations. The PHRC storage tanks are part of an integrated tank farm capable of receiving products from both OPHR and NPHR. The tank farm does not operate separate gantries for either section, as suggested by Mr. Egbere. Instead, it is an integrated system designed for optimal efficiency. Moreover, Mr. Egbere’s claim that NPSC loaded only four trucks between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. is another falsehood. The ceremonial truck load-out commenced past 2 p.m. on November 26, and five trucks were successfully loaded. The plant operates at a nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per day at 60% throughput and the refinery is working toward 90% throughput in no distant time, contrary to the figure erroneously bandied by Mr. Egbere during the interview.
“Another misleading claim from Mr. Egbere is that the NNPCL produces 1.4 million barrels per day. In reality, the NNPCL processes crude to produce white products of varying volumes as outlined in their press releases. It is important to emphasize that the NNPCL is no longer an agency under government control but a limited liability company regulated by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).Mr. Egbere’s portrayal of the NNPCL as an agent holding the oil industry in trust for Nigerians is a distortion of facts aimed at sowing distrust among the populace. The post-Petroleum Industry Act restructuring has established NNPCL as a profit-driven entity, positioning it for operational transparency and efficiency”.
While commending the efforts of the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari for a job well done in the rehabilitation of the PHRC, Gbemre urged the Nigerian public to disregard the derogatory remarks of Egbere in the television interview.
“The arrival of NNPCL GCEO, Mallam Mele Kyari, at the refinery on November 25 is a testament to the leadership’s commitment to ensuring the success of the operations. His presence underscored the administration’s support for the contractors and staff who worked tirelessly to bring the refinery back online. This act of leadership should be commended, not ridiculed, as Mr. Egbere attempted to do with his derogatory remarks.
“Another area of deliberate misinformation was the mention of Area 5 and NPHR. Both facilities share common utilities, such as a single power generation plant that supplies energy to the entire complex. This operational setup is standard in refinery systems and should not be misconstrued as a shortfall. Mr. Egbere’s failure to understand or acknowledge this demonstrates a lack of technical expertise.
“The successful commencement of operations at PHRC marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. As other refineries are brought online, Nigeria is poised not only to meet domestic demand but also to generate foreign exchange through exports. These gains are a result of deliberate policies and efficient execution by the NNPCL and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The allegations made by Mr. Timothy Egbere during his television appearance are baseless and aimed at discrediting the monumental strides made by NNPCL and PHRC. His claims lack factual accuracy and are indicative of a larger agenda to malign the refinery’s operations. Nigerians should disregard his assertions and focus on the tangible progress being achieved at PHRC and other national refineries.The commendable efforts of the NNPCL team, under the leadership of Mallam Mele Kyari, deserve recognition. Their work has set the stage for a self-sufficient petroleum industry that will benefit all Nigerians and contribute significantly to the nation’s economy”, the statement noted.