Imo modular refinery starts operation at 600m liters daily
Joseph Irikefe
A modular refinery owned by Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited has received praise from the Federal Government.
The refinery, located in Imo State help provide a solution to Nigeria’s energy challenges. Already, the refinery is producing over 600 million litres of various products and dispatching 20 trucks daily.
Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), has praised WalterSmith Modular Refinery for meeting energy needs in the country. The refinery located at Ibigwe in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State produces 600 million litres of different types of products.
Lokpobiri, speaking to journalists after taking a tour of the facility with Simbi Wabote, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), expressed delight with WalterSmith.
The minister also noted that modular refineries are the shortest way to address Nigeria’s energy problems. His words: “The refineries that are state-owned are still under rehabilitation. As the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it is my responsibility to ensure that there is sufficient supply of petroleum products pending the resumption of refining activities in the nation’s refineries. “I take charge of the programme to supervise the rehabilitation of our state-owned refineries. That is why I have gone round all the refineries in Port Harcourt, the refinery in Warri and the refinery in Kaduna. You know the shortest way to addressing our energy problem is the modular refineries. “That is why the executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Board, said there was the need for us to visit the WalterSmith and that is why I am here today to see things for myself. I am sure anybody that enters here will be very proud of what we are seeing here.”
He added that he is determined to ensure more modular refineries are working “I am happy to be here to see what is going on and to encourage WalterSmith; Yes it is possible we can solve our energy problems in this country. “The government will continue to support owners of Modular refineries but I want to say that it is not enough for us to give money. We need to identify those who have proven record of success. “Some people will take the money and divert it, but here we are physically seeing one that is functional and we have also seen the expansion of what is going on. We will do whatever we can to support WalterSmith.”
Speaking, the NCDMB Executive Secretary expressed delight that the modular refinery has successfully kicked off operation. He disclosed that: “WalterSmith Modular Refinery produced over 600 million litres of various products from this refinery. About 20 trucks leave the refineries daily.