Petroleum marketers have stated that they are set to begin lifting fuel from the state-owned Port Harcourt refinery soon.

They added that the process would be seamless as they are already customers of the NNPC.

Speaking at the refinery complex on Tuesday, the Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Joseph Obele, praised the NNPC and President Tinubu for achieving the milestone.

Obele called the Port Harcourt refinery a dream come true, stating that it has proven the naysayers wrong.

“It is a dream come true. A lot of people have been asking me if it was a rumour or true. We commend the NNPC and the president for this. We now have hope that marketers will be loading at the Port Harcourt refinery,” Obele stressed.

He spoke further in a statement, “PETROAN was fully on the ground with National President Dr Billy Gillis Hary and other national officers of PETROAN at the ceremonial commencement at Alesa Eleme and indeed the smile on people’s faces was a clear indication of joy arising the commencement of loading after a six years dormant state.

“PETROAN expresses optimism that the commencement of production at Port Harcourt refinery will usher in job opportunities, boost the economy and trigger competition at the downstream sector which will invariably reflect significantly to a price downward review.

“We reaffirm our commitment to synergising with the management of NNPC Retail and other stakeholders in ensuring that products lifted at the Port Harcourt refinery depot are well distributed to all the nooks and crannies of the nation at the right time with the right price.”

In his remarks, the spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said this was a welcome development.

The IPMAN publicity secretary noted that marketers are now the “beautiful bride” to the two refineries.

“IPMAN members are delighted about the Port Harcourt refinery. Right now we have double sources of petroleum products. The issue of monopoly is gone. The deregulation competition has started. We the Independent marketers are now the beautiful bride. Anywhere the product is cheap, we will buy it. The competition has started and we are happy. Activities around the host community have picked up. And the congestion in Ibeju-Lekki and Apapa will be reduced,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the the Chief Executive Officer of Matrix Energy, Abdulkabir Aliu, whom the NNPC boss referred to as the lender for the project, explained that the company’s commitment to the nation’s progress was the reason it released funds for the project.

Aliu recalled that some individuals had advised Matrix Energy to write off the debt when it appeared the refinery would never be operational again.

“We believe in this country and this is why we put our money down. Some people have told us to write the money off,“ the Matrix Energy boss said as he congratulated the NNPC.

The Port Harcourt refinery will become the second petrol-producing refinery once it begins operations, following the Dangote refinery’s commencement of PMS production in September.

Currently, the Port Harcourt plant is the only facility that can partially compete with the 650,000-barrel capacity Dangote refinery.

It was learned that marketers have not yet been able to lift products directly from the Dangote refinery.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu is pushing for the expedited completion of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended his heartfelt congratulations to the NNPC for the successful revitalization of the refinery.

“The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.

“Furthermore, President Tinubu commends the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone.

“With the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries,” the statement read.

After seven delays, the Port Harcourt Refinery Company has finally begun fuel production, with a promise to supply about 200 trucks daily.

On Tuesday, the plant released approximately one million litres of refined products.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited unveiled the refinery, announcing that the old facility, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, had been revamped and upgraded with modern equipment.

The NNPC also stated that the newly rehabilitated refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed refining capacity.