The Modular refinery
* Dispatches 20 trucks daily
* Gets FG commendation
By Jon Egie
To help assuage the sufferings of Nigerians due to high cost of Premium Motor Spirit,PMS, commonly called petrol, a modular refinery, WalterSmith Modular Refinery located at Ibigwe in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State has commenced production of 600 million litres of fuel daily. It also has the capacity of .dispatching 20 trucks daily.
Minister of State for petroleum, Heneiken Lokpobri disclosed this while addressing journalists during a tour of the WalterSmith Modular Refinery facility. He used the opportunity to praise WalterSmith for coming to the aid of the consumption demand of Nigerians and meeting the energy needs of the country.
He was accompanied by Simbi Wabote, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
“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 .” Refinery capacity For Wabote, NCDMB Executive Secretary, he expressed delight that the modular refinery has successfully kicked off operation.
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