NNPC inaugurates committees to revamp refineries

The promise by the Buhari administration to stop the country from importing refined petroleum from outside the country received a boost on Wednesday with setting up of eight different committees charged with rehabilitating all the existing refineries in the country.

The group managing director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru in a statement on Wednesday that the committee is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all existing refineries are producing at optimum capacity.

The NNPC Managing Director further charged the committees to deliver well and within schedule, adding that time was of the essence.
“I am convinced that the teams we have selected here today will give the necessary direction towards returning the refineries back to their optimal levels of performance.”
“We want to show everyone that we can fully run the refineries. You must all work together to operate them at 100 per cent capacity as this was the only way to ensure profitability.
“We can fix the refineries but without the right people to operate them, they would go back to where they were or even worse.”
Anibor Kragha, chief operating officer, refineries, and petrochemicals, said over 28 expressions of interest had been received so far for the financing of the rehabilitation project, adding that the goal was to get more by the end of 2017.
He also said the 2019 target was “the first time in 20 years” that there was both the political will and the economic climate to ensure effective rehabilitation of the refineries.
“Payment is therefore hinged on performance, ensuring a win-win situation for Nigeria,” Kragha said

The President Buhari lead APC government has repeatedly pledged to bring to fuel importation before the end of its four-year term, a pledged that has largely remained unfulfilled.

See also  Telecom Tariff Hike: NLC tells FG to reverse hike or face shutdown