Nigeria is processing applications for establishing seven modular refineries in the state, said Dr Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state petroleum resources, noting that three of the applications have reached the approval stage
Kachikwu disclosed this during Alaghodaro Investment Summit, held in Benin city and organised by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in collaboration with the Edo State government.
The summit was comprised of representatives of the federal government, state government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and security agencies.
Kachikwu said that the federal government is aiming to develop the Niger Delta region through the modular refineries initiative, Gas Flare Commercialisation programme and collaboration with oil-producing states, on the Amnesty programme, as reported by This day.
He added that the establishment of modular refineries is driven by the private sector. He further noted that the analysis, designs and engineering work for three refineries have been done, said the source.
Speaking to the press, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, minister of Niger Delta Affairs, said that the summit aimed at sensitising the people on federal government's on-going initiatives in the region.
Noting that the NDDC has failed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state on the reconstruction of the Benin-Abraka Express Road, Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State, called for a yearly stakeholders' meeting to revive development by the federal government in the state.
“Oil is located in 33 communities in three local government areas in the state, which include, Ovia North East, Orionmwon and Ikpoba Okha. We want to organise the oil-producing council areas into clusters and work with the federal government to help us with the physical planning and gap analysis to evaluate the progress of development in the councils," Obaseki said.