3rd July, 2012
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
After five days of disruption,the loading of petroleum products at the NNPC refinery at Eleme, has resumed, bringing relief to the residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital,South-South,Nigeria, who have had to endure lengthy queues at pump stations.
PMNEWS learnt that the disruption was caused by power supply problem at the refinery.
Chairman Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN
Port Harcourt Unit, Prince Sunny Nkpe, said the queues noticed at pump stations in the state,over the weekend was as a result of this power problem at the refinery’s loading bay.
PmNews gathered that over 74 trucks were loaded with Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) between yesterday and about 3pm today.
The resumption in loading of products is contrary to the general view that the scarcity was due to the complaint of major marketers that they were having difficulty sourcing for funds from financial institutions.
The break down of the products loaded showed that out of the 74 trucks, 40trucks were for petrol stations in and around Port Harcourt,while 34 trucks were for stations outside the state capital.
Most of Petrol stations that ran out products sold for motorists this afternoon.
Sales resumed at African Petroleum PLc,NNPC,Paflox,Total, in Rumuodamaya,Mobil in Waterlines Junction, along Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway and others in Port Harcourt at the time of this report.