By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, has disclosed that Nigeria’s fallow refineries located in both Warri at Delta State and Kaduna State will be up and running before June 2020.
He also added that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers State was ongoing and was nearing completion and others were expected to follow by Q1 and Q2 2020.
He made these remarks at the at the 13th Oil Trading and Logistics Africa Downstream Week, adding that the refineries would not only be repaired but their capacities would also be increased to support the rapid infrastructural development in the sector.
It is to be noted that all four government refineries have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day but have not been utilized for many years.
Mr Sylva, who was represented by his Senior Technical Adviser and Chief of Staff, Mr Moses Olamide, said, “In order to have a robust, investor-friendly and stable downstream petroleum sector, the government is currently finalising clearer and more transparent regulatory framework with well-delineated activities to support the rapid infrastructural development in the sector including new refining capacities emerging in the country.”
The Minister further said that government would promote the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIGB), which would produce a focused supervisory agency, regulated tariff and open access to pipeline and terminals, and introduction of transportation network code, among other benefits to the sector.
He also added that the ministry was looking towards a public-private partnership in the downstream sector which would assist the nation in managing its pipeline infrastructure and depots.
He then promised to set up the necessary framework that would encourage this partnership while aggressively pursuing the commercialisation of gas flaring.
Dipo Olowookere