The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has unveiled agenda for new refineries as part of measures to enhance performance in the oil sector.
Speaking with Journalists in Kaduna after inspecting Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe- Kachikwu, said the corporation was working round the clock to attain optimal production capacity.
Kachukwu said: “What is obtainable is that most of our refineries are close to 30 to 40 years old; we need to begin to look at building new refineries in the same land space where they can share facilities so that you will have something to lean on when these old ones are beginning to kick out”.
He added: “Obviously, we need new modules. Three out of the six units of the plants are down. Some of them for a very long period. We need to sit down and see what modules; how do you turn around the new refineries; how do you work on emergency basis components of the ones that are there.
“Kaduna has a very unique place in my heart. I grew up in Kano and I used to come here often. It is so key for the survival of the economy of Kaduna State and the rest of the North and we really need to focus on getting these things to work and getting them to expand.
“Without them, we are not going to get out of problems of fuel supply, power supply and all that. So, we are going to have a whole commercial structure, a whole engineering structure; a lot needs to be done different from models we are pursuing right now.”
Speaking on security of the pipelines, he said: “As you are aware, we are working with the security forces to enhance the Warri to Kaduna points and they have been tested now for integrity and I think by my understanding for the last testing, it is fairly okay now to take control if the FCC units are working.
