- Marketers urge NNPC to address pricing disparities between Lagos and Port Harcourt.
- Port Harcourt refinery starts servicing independent outlets after NNPC exclusivity.
Barring any unforeseen changes, petroleum marketers and retailers are set to commence lifting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Port Harcourt Refining Company this week. This development follows the recent restart of operations at the refinery in November, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce fuel imports.
Joseph Obele, the Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), disclosed the update in an exclusive interview, adding that the refinery has so far only supplied fuel to retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
While marketers currently source fuel from NNPC depots, Obele highlighted that these products are imported, with prices in Port Harcourt exceeding those in Lagos. He called for uniform pricing, urging NNPC to sell fuel to Port Harcourt marketers at the same rate as their Lagos counterparts.
“The current price disparity is unfair. NNPC is selling PMS at ₦899 per litre in Lagos but at ₦970 in Port Harcourt due to logistics costs. With the refinery now operational, we expect this issue to be addressed,” Obele stated.
He added, “Our members are eager to begin lifting fuel directly from the Port Harcourt refinery. This will not only reduce logistics challenges but also ensure fair pricing for consumers in the region.”
Obele confirmed that, as of now, only NNPC retail outlets in Port Harcourt have been supplied directly from the refinery. However, independent marketers expect access to commence within days.
Pricing Concerns Persist
Obele emphasized that marketers are pressing NNPC to align fuel prices between Lagos and Port Harcourt, especially with local production now supplementing imports.
“With stock available locally, we are requesting that NNPC sell at uniform rates. The current price difference affects our profitability and consumer affordability,” he said.
NNPC spokesman Olufemi Soneye confirmed the refinery’s production capacity, stating it currently blends naphtha to produce petrol. The Port Harcourt facility is undergoing rehabilitation, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day now operational and work on the 150,000-barrel-per-day plant nearing completion.
The restart of the Port Harcourt refinery represents a critical milestone in Nigeria’s bid to reduce reliance on imported fuel, but stakeholders insist that equitable pricing and sustained production must accompany this progress.
