The Coalition of Niger Delta Youth On Energy Reforms and Transparency in the Oil and Gas Sector, has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, to ensure that the Port Harcourt Refinery becomes operational before the end of September as he promised. At a press conference jointly addressed yesterday by Barr. Dickens A.
Opu and Barr. Werigbelegha Zinake, the group lamented that, despite the billions of naira that have been earmarked and disbursed for the functionality of the Port Harcourt refinery, the refining plant remains non-operational. The group expressed concern about the energy crisis in the country caused by the non-functionality of local refineries, continued dependence on the importation of petroleum products, and the resulting cost implications for the country.
The Lawyers noted that the failure of NNPC has further worsened the country’s energy crisis and impoverished the people of the oil-producing Niger Delta. The group alleged that the Port Harcourt refinery is being planned to be converted into a blending plant. They claim that substandard petroleum products from Russia will be mixed with chemicals and sold to the people of the Niger Delta.
The Lawyers expressed concern over the potential environmental impact of converting the Port Harcourt refinery into a blending plant. They expressed fear that this move could expose the people of the Niger Delta to harmful chemicals from environmenta.