June 28, (THEWILL) – Edo State’s Governor Godwin Obaseki on Saturday said the 6,000 barrels per day modular refinery in Ologbo, Ikpoba–Okha Local Government Area (LGA) is ready for production.
Obaseki stated this shortly after he was conducted round the facility by the Managing Director of the refinery, Mr Tim Tian.
He said: “The plant is ready; it’s ready to receive crude oil; it’s ready to process and it’s ready to deliver products.
“They have done the pre-commissioning with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). They have certified the refinery as ready for production.”
The Governor expressed joy that the facility is ready despite the setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Obaseki said: “Three years ago, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed. You can see that MoU works. So far, I am very impressed that the plant has moved in such a speed.
“Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the refinery is ready to receive crude oil, ready to process and to deliver refined products.
“What we have left now is to finalise the crude oil sale contract, these facilities have to get a certain type of crude from the Escravos line and that is being finalised.
“I hope that before the end of August, we should start lifting products from this refinery.”
On his part, the Traditional Ruler of Ologbo community, Chief Owen Akenzua, expressed happiness about the facility.
Akenzua said: “My people are excited that such project will go a long way in improving the socio-economic development for our community.
“The Governor said has this project dear to his heart, not only this project, the power plant is also situated in Ologbo.
“The OSSIOMO Power Plant is capable of generating power for the immediate environment and the state at large, we are glad that this project is sited here.”
The refinery is being developed by two Chinese firms -AIPCC Energy Limited and Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company Limited.
It has a capacity of 6,000 barrels per day and it is expected to produce 50 percent of diesel (500,000 litres), 25 percent of naphtha (300,000 litres) and 20 percent of fuel oil (200,000 litres) from its feedstock.
The Managing Director of the project, Tim Tian, commended the governor for his efforts towards actualising the project.
Tian, who agreed the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the project, however, said that the facility was ready for production.
Tim Tian, had said the refinery will get its feedstock (crude) from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) facility– oil mining lease (OML) 111– near Benin City.
To Governor Obaseki, the refinery is among the growing list of ongoing legacy projects through MoU with local and international private investors.
They include the already completed 55MW CCTEC Ossiomo Power Plant; the ongoing Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park; and the Benin River Port, for which is ongoing.
About the Author
