The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to stick to the 30-day timeline for the planned maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).

NNPC had announced the shutdown, scheduled to begin on 24 May 2025, through its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, stating that the process would involve maintenance and sustainability assessments in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

PETROAN’s National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, welcomed the planned repairs but warned against delays, citing past bottlenecks and the risk of aggravating fuel supply disruptions.

He said the 30-day target must be met to avoid further hardship for Nigerians and urged that the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit be included in the repairs, noting that crude cracking without it would be ineffective.

The association called on NNPC to ensure repairs are completed before existing fuel stocks are depleted to prevent market monopolies and ensure price stability.

It also recommended that the Minister of Petroleum set up a monitoring task force comprising industry stakeholders to provide weekly progress updates to the public.

To avoid delays, PETROAN further advised prompt payments to contractors handling the repairs.

Meanwhile, an internal memo at the PHRC’s Area 5 plant instructed staff not to engage with external parties or speak to the media. It warned that any breach of this directive would attract disciplinary action under the Labour Law.