All completed modular refineries are already producing, according to the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), the Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Paul Osu.
Speaking with The Nation on phone, he added that the completed refineries are integrated ones that also produce crude oil for their refining.
Asked when the completed refineries would commence production (refining of crude oil), he retorted: “Which one is completed that is not refining?”
Continuing, he said: “There is no one that is completed that has not started. Niger Delta is completed it is running. Waltersmith is completed and it is running. Obat in Kwale is almost done.”
The DPR spokesman said: “Duport is almost completed. Dangote is still at work. What we have is the one that will soon be up and running.
“The ones that are running, the Waltersmith and co, they produce their own crude.
“Waltersmith has a marginal field from there they are producing and they are running a refinery and a gas company.”
Meanwhile, a check on the DPR document entitled “Status of Refinery Licenses: Summary on Refinery Licences as at August 29, this year,” showed that two modular refineries have been completed and licensed to operate.
First is the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (Phase l and Il) in Ogbele, Rivers State with 6000 Barrel Per Stream Day (BPSD) capacity. It is a topping plant.
The second one is Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited in Ibigwe, Imo State. It has 5,000 BPSD capacity. It is also a topping plant.
Further checks also showed yesterday that the total number of refinery licenses increased from 70 to 71 as at August 19, 2021.
The document reflected that while 32 are active, 39 are inactive.
According to DPR, it has issued 36 refineries with licenses to establish. Of the 36, 13 are active while 23 are inactive.
The total crude commitment the DPR has issued licenses for is 2,382,000BPSD. While 1, 821,000 BPSD is active and 1,560,000 BPSD is dormant.
The Nation also discovered that the DPR has issued 33 refineries licences with Approval To Construct/Relocation (ATC/R). While 17 of the 17 licenses are active, 16 are dormant.
The Nation had on July 23, this year reported that the licensed refineries were 70.
Then while only 30 were active, 40 were dormant.
In other words, the DPR has issued an additional license between July 8, 2021 and August 19, 2021.
