The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has reiterated the determination of the corporation to fix the nation’s refineries. He promised Nigerians that he will make sure that all the refineries get back on stream before the end of this administration in 2023.
In an exclusive interview with Realnews, Kyari explained that the move to get back the refineries on stream has commenced. He said the refineries were undergoing diagnostics at the moment. “The refineries are deliberately shut down. We shut them down for a comprehensive rehabilitation to correct the colossal loss of capacity by the refineries.
“The diagnostic phase of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery has been concluded. The second phase will commence soon. And we will extend same to the other refineries. Like I said when I assumed office as GMD, we will make sure that all the refineries get back on stream before the end of this administration in 2023. I still stand by that,” he said.
On the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, by the National Assembly, Kyari said it was unfortunate that the PIB was yet to be passed into law after so many years of its initial presentation. He assured Nigerians that President Muhaamadu Buhari led administration has the political will to pass the bill into law.
“What I can tell you, however, is that there is enough political will in the current administration to get it passed. Under the able leadership of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, H.E. Chief Timipre Sylva, we are working very closely with the National Assembly to ensure that it is passed into law this time around.”
However, Kyari said the Corporation was working to adopt the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), as the primary fuel for cooking in place of kerosene and firewood across the country. He explained that there is a committee at the ministry of petroleum resources set up by the minister of state for petroleum resources that is working on that.
“But from our own end, NPDC is building an LPG Unit at the Oredo Gas Handling Facility to deliver 240 metric tonnes of LPG into the domestic market. The plant is almost ready. It will be commissioned in October, all things being equal. The NLNG Train 7 Project is a very significant aspect of our gas commercialisation/monetization drive. As you may know, Nigeria has adjudged a gas province. We have more gas reserves than crude oil.
“What we are trying to do is to commercialize the gas and turn it into a major revenue earner for the country. NLNG is one of the major projects in that direction. Train 7 will increase the capacity of NLNG from the current 22 metric tonnes to about 30 metric tonnes. That is a significant increase that will translate to more gas revenue for the country. The total cost of the project is about $10bn and we are looking at approximately five years for its completion, which is 2025,” he said.
