The Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said he is not relenting in his efforts in pushing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to expedite the completion of the Port Harcourt refinery, which was initially scheduled to be finished by December 2023.
Lokpobiri disclosed this yesterday while speaking to journalists shortly after a tour of the Waltersmith Modular Refinery, located near the Ibigwe marginal field flow station, in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State.
The Waltersmith modular refinery, operated by Waltersmith Petroleum and Petrochemicals Limited, was established in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The minister reiterated that the shortest way to addressing Nigeria’s energy problems is encouraging the established of modular refineries.
He said: “Well, as the minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it is my responsibility to ensure that there is sufficient supply of petroleum products pending the resumption of refining activities in the nation’s refineries.
“I take charge of the programme to supervise the rehabilitation of our state-owned refineries. That is why I have gone round all the refineries in Port Harcourt, the refinery in Warri and the refinery in Kaduna. You know the shortest way to addressing our energy problem is the modular refineries.
“That is why the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Board, said there was the need for us to visit the WilliamSmith and there is why I am here today to things for myself. I am sure anybody that enters here will be very proud of what we are seeing here.
“The ones that are state-owned are still under rehabilitation but this one is working. I am happy to be here to see what is going on and to encourage WalterSmith to that we can solve our energy problems in this country.”
Speaking with journalists also, executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, expressed happiness that the investment the board in the modular refinery was successful.
Wabote said: “We can see the success story of WalterSmith Modular Refinery. They have produced over 600 million litres of various products from this refinery. About 20 trucks leave the refineries on daily basis.
“We have gone round and you can see that the refinery is working. We are very happy it is a successful. Usually, it is not every investment that you participate in that comes out successful.”
