Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Investment, Commerce & Industry spoke to journalists earlier in the week to give details on the government's earlier announced plan to establish refineries in the State. And, he reveals that President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to perform groundbreaking for one of the refineries.
The Government is working towards siting 3 refineries in the State; Rev Oil Petroleum Limited and Resource Petroleum Limited; while the 3rd is to be revived and that is the Amakpe Refinery, which had attracted some controversy in the Victor Attah administration.
On how far the government has gone in this plan, Barr Enoidem said that the State Ministry of Lands and Housing is already working on staff quarters for the refineries. Also, "The unique design for the refinery has been approved. The major engineering design and final designs will be approved soon" He said.
On the Controversy surrounding the Amakpe refinery, the Commissioner said;
"There are debts to settle at the Amakpe Refinery. The refinery was built about eight years ago and it has been warehoused by the company that fabricated it. 14.9 million dollars is to be paid. It includes the cost of shipment back to Nigeria, clearing and installation by the technical team. The refinery has a capacity of 6,000 barrels per day, expandable to 12,000".
But he stressed that the Udom Emmanuel led administration is bent on getting it to work, to save the effort and investment made in the project earlier:
"...Government has inspected the facilities and is satisfied. The design and engineering metrics are at the manufacturing facility in Pasadena Texas" He said.
When completed, the three refineries are expected to produce over 150,000 barrels per day. President Buhari, according to the Commissioner is to come for the Groundbreaking exercise between January and April 2016.
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