Why marketers are not loading petrol from Port Harcourt Refinery – TUC President, Osifo

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, has revealed the reasons behind petroleum marketers’ refusal to lift products from the recently revitalized Port Harcourt Refinery.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Osifo explained that the price differential between the products of the Port Harcourt Refinery and those of the Dangote Refinery is the primary issue deterring marketers.

“What actually happened was that those trucks, at the time, were not loading because they felt, the marketers felt that the Dangote was selling at a cheaper price compared to what the NNPC was selling,” Osifo stated. “So they had these price issues that the trucks were not going there to load. But only the trucks of NNPC were being loaded,” he added.

PlatinumPost had earlier reported concerns from the management of the Port Harcourt Refinery over marketers’ unwillingness to lift products from the facility despite its recent resumption of operations.

Osifo acknowledged that while the Port Harcourt Refinery is operational, its efficiency is still lagging behind the advanced technology employed at the Dangote Refinery.

He further clarified that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has ceased importing refined petroleum products following the operationalization of both the Port Harcourt and Dangote refineries.

“As of today, I can tell you that from the best of my knowledge, from NNPC trading, they don’t import PMS anymore. But there is no official ban on importation. So private companies, they do import PMS, but if they import PMS, now that’s where competition comes in. If it is cheaper for you to get PMS locally than the ones you are importing, then at the end of the day, nobody will patronize you,” Osifo explained.