The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board says it has acquired equity in the 12,000 barrels per day modular refinery being constructed by Azikel Petroleum Limited in Bayelsa State.

The NCDMB said in a statement that when completed and operational in 2021, the refinery would produce about 1.3 million litres of petrol as well as diesel, kerosene, mixed liquefied petroleum gas (cooking gas) and a small percentage of heavy fuel oil.

The board’s Executive Secretary, Mr Simbi Wabote, described the modular refinery as the second and largest being supported by the NCDMB, noting that the partnership had huge prospects in job creation, value retention, petroleum products availability and in the development of in-country capability.

He said, “The project fits perfectly with our vision to serve as a catalyst for the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”

According to him, the NCDMB is in the final stages of commencing partnership in the development of another modular refinery in Calabar, Cross River State before the end of 2019.

Wabote said, “We are proud to be part of the journey to wean off our dear country from massive importation of petroleum products.

“Our data analytics show that we can more than double the contribution of the oil sector to the Gross Domestic Product if we achieve the current growth trajectory with the refurbishment of existing refineries, completion of the Dangote refinery, and ongoing modular refineries, to bring refining to about 50 per cent of our oil production capacity from the current level of below 20 per cent.

According to him, the board’s intervention extends to gas processing and utilisation and it has progressed discussions with partners on the establishment of LPG cylinders manufacturing plant, LPG depots, and gas processing facilities.

“One of the projects of interest is the establishment of an inland LPG depot in Abuja to complement Federal Government’s LPG penetration initiative. This project is part of the gas value chain as it utilises condensate, which is one of the by-products from gas processing.”

On his part, President, Azikel Petroleum, Dr Eruani Godbless, described NCDMB’s partnership in the modular refinery project as historic, saying the board had gone beyond its role as a regulatory agency to also serve as a catalytic agent to develop the infrastructure needed to address insufficiency of refined petroleum products in the country.