IPMAN Calls for Sustainable, Competent Management of Port Harcourt Refinery

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Port Harcourt Depot Unit, has called for sustained and technically sound management of the Port Harcourt Refinery, stating that periodic rehabilitation alone is insufficient to address the facility’s persistent challenges.

In a statement signed on June 12, 2025, by its Chairman, Tekena Thankgod Ikpaki, the association emphasized the need for a “consistent and experienced management focused on functionality and long-term sustainability.”

The statement was in response to remarks made by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, who recently suggested that the Federal Government may consider selling some of its refineries to address ongoing rehabilitation and performance issues.

As key stakeholders in the downstream oil sector, IPMAN noted that petroleum marketers are acutely aware of the strategic importance of the Port Harcourt Refinery—not only for Rivers State and the Niger Delta but for the broader Nigerian economy.

Ikpaki highlighted the facility’s troubled operational history, including its brief resumption of activity in November 2024 and another shutdown for maintenance in May 2025. He said the recurring breakdowns point to deeper technical and operational deficiencies.

“Our concern is not necessarily about who manages the refinery,” Ikpaki stated. “Whether it remains under NNPCL control or is transferred to a private entity, the primary objective must be to ensure the Port Harcourt Refinery operates at optimal capacity.”

He added that a fully functional refinery would bring wide-ranging benefits—such as stabilizing the domestic supply of refined products, reducing import dependency, creating jobs, boosting local content, and strengthening national energy security.

IPMAN urged the Federal Government and NNPCL to ensure that any future sale or concessioning of the refinery is guided by competence, technical expertise, and a proven track record in refinery operations.

“Privatization should not be pursued merely for its own sake,” the statement read. “It must deliver measurable improvements in output, efficiency, and overall benefit to the nation.”

Concluding, Ikpaki reaffirmed IPMAN’s readiness to work with all relevant stakeholders to support a smooth and transparent transition process, should the government move forward with a sale or partnership arrangement.

“We are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that any transition—if and when it occurs—is transparent, accountable, and ultimately beneficial to Nigerians, especially those operating within the petroleum value chain,” he said.