The Federal Government of Nigeria today stated that it has granted Operating licences for the establishment of modular refineries ranging from between 50,000 to 250,000 barrels in the Niger Delta to thirty eight entrepreneurs in the Country.
The Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Petroleum Resources in charge of Refining and Downstream Infrastructure, Mr. Rabiu Suleiman disclosed this during facilities inspection visit to OPAC refinery in Kwale, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta.
Suleiman also noted that ten out of the thirty entrepreneurs have secured their “permit to construct.”
Suleiman explained that the visit was to enable them evaluate the extent of construction work and also support the investor.
” We are here to provide support as government and also evaluate what the entrepreneur is doing in alignment with the vision of the government to see how we can encourage local production.
“We are here to see how the 7,000 barrel capacity can support the government from the extra money going into importation of petroleum products and support the investors so that we can be self subsistence in terms of production.
” Another one under construction is almost at similar stage with the OPAC so we are looking forward towards commissioning two modular refineries in the next five or six months.
“There is never enough in terms of refineries, our vision is to ensure that all our crude oil is refined in Nigeria and exported, so there is a good margin in modular refinery business”.
The Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria ‘Vice President, Mr. Edobor Iyamu pledged the Federal Government’s commitment towards creating an enabling environment for Modular refineries business to thrive in Nigeria.
Iyamu stated that the company would commence with the production of Diesel and Kerosene and later include PMS at an operating capacity of 7,000 barrel per day.
“Sometime ago, we made a promise as a government to the Niger Delta region that we are going to introduce modular refinery for two reasons.
“As a way of substituting the activities of the illegal refineries and to also increase our local production.
“What we see here is quite impressive, a lot of work is going on and hopefully before the end of the year, this project would have come on stream and that will be good for our country.
” We are excited as a government, we made the promises. This is again another promise that is about to be kept in terms of completion.
“So those who are interested in setting up modular refineries, they should believe what the government is doing and invest in it,” he said.
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