Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, don talk say increasing locally produced modular refineries go play big role in stopping pipeline vandalism and illegal refining wey dey scatter Nigeria oil sector.
Lokpobiri yarn this on Monday when he visit the ongoing construction of one 30,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery for Koko, Delta State. The project dey handled by Ebenco Global Link Limited, an indigenous energy and industrial services company. The update drop inside statement wey Ebenco CEO, Dr Ebenezer Oluwagbemiga, release on Tuesday.
According to the minister, boosting local refining capacity go give people alternative to illegal bunkering and crude theft. He talk say many of the vandals dey break pipelines because dem dey find crude to use for illegal refining.
“Producing modular refineries locally is one of the solutions to pipeline vandalisation wey dey happen from those doing illegal refining,” Lokpobiri talk.
He add say once the Ebenco modular refinery complete, government go use am as model to duplicate the idea for different communities where illegal refining don turn source of survival. He say government dey even consider ways to help people acquire modular units if dem wan leave illegal activities.
“If dem no get money, we go see how to help dem get am and dem go pay back small small,” the minister talk.
Lokpobiri explain say this new approach go create jobs, reduce crude theft, boost revenue and turn illegal refiners into legit business people. “At the end, everybody go benefit,” he add.
The minister also talk about technology transfer, say other countries develop their refining capacity by acquiring foreign tech and domesticating am. He hail the international partnership wey Ebenco adopt to ensure global standards.
Ebenco CEO, Dr Oluwagbemiga, talk say the refinery go start with 5,000 barrels per day before expanding. He add say once the refinery start fully, e go reduce illegal bunkering, create jobs and push local content forward.
The update come as government dey intensify fight against crude oil vandalism. Earlier for May, NSA Nuhu Ribadu talk say 15 pipeline vandals don already get conviction, while 100 more cases dey court.
