Oil Marketers in Nigeria have expressed readiness to load products from the nation’s refineries, as soon as full operations commence at the facilities.
National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi said Marketers have been informed of the on-going repair works at the three facilities and are getting set to work with them.
He explained that due to proximity, oil Marketers in the South-South region have been put on notice about the Port Harcourt refinery which is expected to commence operation in two weeks.
Alhaji Maigandi gave an assurance that there would be marginal decrease in pump price of petrol, the moment Marketers begin to load products from the refineries.
The IPMAN President also expressed optimism that employment opportunities would be available for Nigerians, when the refineries begin operation, most especially the Port Harcourt Refinery, which the NNPCL said would commence operation in two weeks time.
Also speaking on the issue, the Executive Secretary, Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong said members would be glad to load products from the Refineries, but cautioned that products from the Refineries would only serve as complimentary to imported products, which is due to the high volume needed by consumers.
Recall that the Group Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari last week appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Refineries and declared that mechanical works have been completed at the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries.
Kyari told the Senators that the Port Harcourt Refinery would be the first to start operation in two weeks time as it now has 450,000 barrels of crude oil in stock.
He said that the Warri Refinery would also commence operation later this year while that of Kaduna will start by December.
