FG To Start Importation Of Crude Oil From Niger
Maikanti Baru, NNPC GMD[/caption]
Following the continuous vandalisation of pipeline in the Niger Delta region, The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru has revealed the Federal Government’s plan to start importing crude oil from neighbouring country Niger Republic to Kaduna refinery.
Baru who disclosed this to the newsmen during a visit to the Kaduna Refinery over the weekend said that importing from Niger was part of the government’s effort on finding alternative crude supply to the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC)
“President Muhammadu Buhari has made several contacts with the President of Niger Republic. We are talking with Niger Minister of petroleum. We are also talking with the Chinese Company operating in Agadam,” he stated.
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“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery have been epileptic. This, we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipeline of over 1, 000 kilometers from Agaem to Kaduna.
“The effort is being championed by Mr. President himself. We have already started engagements with the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem, he added.
On investors who have indicated interest in building another refinery, Baru explained that the NNPC is “Convincing them to come and build side by side with the Kaduna refinery. The intention is to build around Kano but we think there is greater synergy to what I have seen here. I am more convinced they will benefit from some of the utilities of Kaduna refinery, he said.
Similarly, the GMD has pledged his commitment to ensure improved power supply to industries in the region through the completion of the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project.
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“These projects will be given special attention during my tenure, he stated.
Finally, Baru disclosed that the College of Petroleum Resources in Kaduna would kick-off in January 2017.
