THE Coalition of Niger Delta Lawyers on Energy Reforms and Transparency in the Oil and Gas Sector, has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, to ensure that the Port Harcourt Refinery becomes operational before the end of September.
Recall that several deadlines given by the NNPCL for the Port Harcourt refinery to come on steam have not been met.
At a press conference jointly addressed, yesterday, by Barr Dickens Opu and Barr Werigbelegha Zinake, the group expressed sadness that despite the billions of naira that had been earmarked and disbursed for the functionality of the refinery, it had remained a mirage.
It 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 the Mele Kyari-led management of the NNPC to revamp local refineries has further worsened the country’s energy crisis and impoverished the people of the oil-producing Niger Delta, who are forced to buy fuel at higher rates than most parts of the country.
The group alleged that the Port Harcourt refinery was being planned to be converted into a blending plant.
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 environmental pollution and degradation caused by the waste products released into the environment.
The statement read: “As we may all be aware, all is not well in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.
“The level of corruption is such that if urgent steps are not taken to address the malaise, Nigeria might go into extinction.
“We say this with all sense of patriotism given the precarious situation in the economic outlook in the country.
“It is indeed worrisome that an oil-producing country like ours is experiencing an energy crisis occasioned by the non-functionality of our refineries and the continued dependence on the importation of petroleum products and the attendant cost implication for the country.
“It is indeed a shame that successive administrations in the country have done little or nothing to ensure the functionality of the country’s refineries.
