Press Release
Stakeholders
at the recently concluded tour of the Board’s projects, partnerships and
initiatives in the Niger Delta region have commended the Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for demystifying the establishment of
modular refineries in the country.
The
stakeholders gave their commendations after visiting the 5000 barrels per
modular refinery established by Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company
Limited at Ibigwe, Imo State in partnership with the NCDMB.
The General
Manager, Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination of NCDMB, Dr. Ginah O.
Ginah who led the team revealed that the significance of the tour was to
showcase the only operational modular refinery in Nigeria and the Board’s
intervention to increase the capacity of Nigerian companies by partnering with
them through funding which, thereby demonstrating that refining crude oil into
petroleum products in-country is achievable.
He
enumerated the economic impact of the refinery to include job creation,
reduction of capital flight, infrastructural development, and community
development as a demonstration of what the Board is doing to catalyse
industrial development and drive the nation’s economy. He reiterated that the
initiative and other strategies will enable the Board ramp up Nigerian Content
in terms of human and organizational capability to 70 percent by 2027.
He added
that the tour will be carried out on a regular basis to showcase the Board’s
projects and facilities to critical stakeholders.
In his
remarks, the Imo State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Hon. Declan
Emelumba who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Violet
Igwe expressed delight at the level of work done by the Board to reduce the
perennial hardship faced by Nigerians due to the non-availability of petroleum
products supply.
Hon.
Emelumba disclosed that if such a facility could be replicated in many
oil-bearing communities, it would reduce the incidence of adulterated petroleum
products and socio-economic challenges in the country.
The Chairman
of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Owerri Zone, Comrade Udoka
Chimonya also expressed his appreciation to the Board. Represented by his Vice
Chairman, Comrade Justice Opara, he disclosed that the tour afforded youths the
opportunity to engage with the Board and see laudable projects which would
create job opportunities and stem restiveness in the area.
The youth
leader pledged to embark on a sensitization tour of the state to avail young
people of opportunities and programs the Board is bringing to the area. He
noted that the establishment of the Waltersmith modular refinery in Imo State
and similar other projects would meet the energy needs of Nigerians.
In his
presentation, the General Manager, Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical
Company Limited, Mr. Abdul Isah who spoke through the Refinery Manager, Engr.
Charles Okon narrated that the company which was initially an Exploration &
Production company decided to venture into the midstream sector of the
industry. “With the support from NCDMB were able to get to this stage. We
appreciate the Board’s cooperation because it has been a fantastic relationship
with us and for the entire country”, he stated.
Mr. Isah
indicated that the refinery is a fully automated facility monitored from any
location through Human Machine Interface (HMI) software devices which checks
any compromise in quality and quantity of the products. He further stated that
the refinery which is currently operating with no downtime since its inception
in November 2020 produces AGO, DPK, HFO, and Naphtha. The company, he said,
hopes to run successfully until it meets its optimum capacity of 50,000 barrels
per day supply in the long run.