Just in: Economic sabotage as Port-Harcourt Refinery comes under massive “attack”; proposed take-off threatened

Port Harcourt Refinery is under a massive attack by a band of youths who invaded the facility and pilfered parts of the strategic oil infrastructure.

The development has put the proposed take-off of the refinery, which turn-around maintenance has been virtually completed, in jeopardy.

The much-expected take-off of the refinery may be delayed by the act of destruction that had be visited on the facility.

The attack on Wednesday came a day after the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Mr Mele Kyari, declared that the Port Harcourt Refinery was almost completed and might begin production in two months’ time.

THE CONCLAVE reports that youths numbering about 100 besieged the refinery premises in the Eleme area of Port Harcourt and blocked roads leading to the area.

Reports reaching our news desk say that the youths vandalised pipelines and cables at the facility.

Scores of them reportedly vowed to prevent anyone access to the roads leading into or out of the refinery.

An official who spoke to our correspondent said that officials of the refinery were experiencing significant sabotage in their efforts to restart the refinery.

“There have been orchestrated acts of vandalism within the plant, and there is an ongoing blockade preventing work from commencing.

“Hundreds of people are gathered at the PHRC entrance, preventing workers from doing their jobs and vowing that the refinery restart will not proceed.,” he said.

THE CONCLAVE reports videos showing vandals caught overnight cutting cables and stealing equipment from the refinery.

It could not be confirmed as of press time who the sponsors of the destructive youths are.

Plans are afoot, according to feelers, to deploy security forces including Nigerian Army, NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force in the refinery to prevent massive destruction of the facility.

Industry watchers were quick on Wednesday to condemn the act of sabotage at the Port Harcourt Refinery, saying “it is ironical that this is happening when we say we want the refineries back at all cost.

“We said we wanted to stop petroleum products importation. We said we wished to see a country where an efficient supply of one of the most important commodities in the life of a Nigerians was not an issue, and then, like a bolt from the blues, we now have this situation.”

A player in the Oil and Gas sector said that Nigerians must raise their voices against these acts of national sabotage and lack of patriotism.

According to him: “Our refineries must work and the government must act immediately to stop this unfortunate sabotage. Nigeria needs competition in the petroleum refining space if we are really serious about bringing down the price of PMS.

“That NNPC is now a commercial entity should not mean infrastructure that are considered national assets like the Port Harcourt refinery should be left unprotected.”

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