From left: Michael Osime, MD, ICMG Securities; Han Weijie, Manager, Sinopec Services; Tim Tian, Director, Peiyang Chemical Equipment Co., with Governor Godwin Obaseki (right) at the Government House, Benin City
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to provide all necessary support to Chinese consortium comprising Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company and Sinopec Oil and Gas Nigeria, who are set to commence construction of a 5,500 barrels-per-day (bpd) modular refinery in the state. Governor Obaseki gave the assurance after a delegation from the company led by its Director, Mr Tim Tian, made a presentation of the project timeline to the Governor at the Government House, in Benin City, the state capital.
Governor Obaseki said the state government was taking advantage of the Federal Government’s modular refinery initiative to boost supply of petroleum products in the country. “The state is at an advantage in building modular refineries as most of the oil and gas assets across the various communities in the state are onshore,” he said. The governor said that the most delightful aspect of the project is the training of indigenes in fabrication and maintenance of modular refinery, urging the company to deliver the first phase of the project by October.
Obaseki promised to work with the company to access a $60-million funding facility under joint agreement between the Chinese and Nigerian governments as well as assist in addressing whatever bottlenecks the company encounters along the way. In his presentation, Mr Tian explained that the phase one of the project, which is a demo modular refinery, would have the capacity to refine 500bpd and would be ready within seven to nine months.
He assured of ease of installation and fabrication of the modular refinery and promised that the project will provide job opportunities for residents in Edo State. The project is to be cited at Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state and will serve as a facility to train residents in the state on fabrication and maintenance of modular refineries. The first phase of the project is a 500bpd facility set to be completed by October. The phase two of the modular refinery, has a capacity of 5000bpd and would be embarked upon after completion of the first phase.
