Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Rivers State, Dr Joseph Obele, has expressed concern that Contractors are yet to mobilize to the site for the turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery months after the approval of 1.5 billion dollars by the federal government.
The Federal Government had on March 18 approved $1.5bn in funding to repair the Port Harcourt refinery, which was closed two years ago.
Petroleum Minister Timipre Sylva said that Italian firm Maire Tecnimont has already been selected by the government to undertake the repair work at the refinery, which has a refining capacity of about 210,000bpd.
But Speaking with our Correspondent, the IPMAN Chairman noted that the revamping of the Port Harcourt Refinery should have commenced a week or two after the approval was made.
According to him, the Union is aware that the Contractors are doing some consultations with host Communities, noting that it is rather taking too long, as people are eager to see the refinery function again.
He emphasized that there is a need for a quick response in order to stop the importation of refined petroleum products into the country.
“People are disappointed that after launching turn around maintenance, till date nothing is happening on site, people are beginning to ask if the federal government is serious and committed to the revamp.
“Actually, we are aware the contractors are doing some consultation, they have visited the king of Eleme and King of Okrika local government areas, but the question is how long will the consultation last and when will they mobilize to site. Everyone wants to see their site fixing the refinery.
“As a stakeholder in the Oil and Gas industry and an indigene of Eleme, the host Community, we are yet to see the contractor’s equipment on site, or them carrying out a recruitment process for the maintenance, so people are eager to see them working”
