The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has hired Honeywell UOP, a U.S.-based multinational, to carry out an assessment of the Port Harcourt refinery.
Gatekeepers News reports that the revelation was made in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by PETROAN’s national publicity secretary, Joseph Obele.
PETROAN applauded NNPC’s group chief executive officer, Bayo Ojulari, for awarding the contract, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring the refinery’s operations. The association noted that the assessment would provide valuable insight for prospective investors.
In the statement, PETROAN endorsed NNPC’s plan to revive the plant under a technical and equity (T&E) partnership model, similar to the framework used by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in Bonny.
It further urged the federal government to ensure transparency and to involve reputable international firms in the refinery’s rehabilitation and management.
NLC said, “We recommend that the revival process be transparent, swift, and free from political interference.”
“We also advocate that credible foreign companies be fairly considered in the partnership arrangement.”
Billy Gillis-Harry, national president of PETROAN, said the adoption of the T&E model would restore efficiency to the Port Harcourt facility and act as a safeguard against monopoly in the downstream sector.
According to him, operationalising the refinery would create healthy competition, stabilise prices, and protect consumers, retailers, and host communities from exploitative practices.
The group also commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure projects, particularly the ongoing rehabilitation of the Eleme expressway, a vital route for transporting petroleum products from the refinery. PETROAN expressed optimism that the initiative would stimulate economic growth and improve local fuel supply once completed.
