Integrate Artisanal Refinery- Stakeholders Tells FG | READ IN FULL

Integrate Artisanal Refinery: Stakeholders Tells FG | READ IN FULL

By Nancy Okafor:

Critical stakeholders in the management of oil and gas sector called on the Federal Government to implement the recommendations in the report of the National Summit on the Integration of Artisanal/Modular Refinery Operations into the In-Country Oil Refining Programme of the Oil and Gas Sector in the Niger Delta.

The meeting, convened by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs , Senator Ita Enang and the stake holders, called on the federal government to consider and approve the implementation of the report of the National Summit on Integration of Artisinal/Modular Refinery Operations into the oil refining programme of the sector and also stressed the need for a review of the Petroleum Refining Regulations of 1974 including other relevant laws which will enable the establishment of artisanal refineries.

It also stressed the need for various organizations with crude oil refining technology to interact with Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulations Authority to enable them to make presentations on their technology.

The forum further canvassed engagements with the bodies of artisanal refining representatives to review the current state of affairs and proffer solutions to the environmental and economic challenges in the region.

The stakeholders also suggested that further engagements be made with governors and governments of impacted states and subnational structures on tackling current challenges.

It also called for establishing a database of those trained in related fields by the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Petroleum Training Institute, Warri and the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, including those trained by the Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

The forum suggested funding the pilot scheme through the Central Bank, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

The emergency meeting was also called to address the soot problem in Rivers State and other environmental pollution caused by artisanal refining activities across the Niger Delta.

The call was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, Director General/Chief Executive, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Idris Musa, the Director, Environmental Assessment Department/Federal Ministry of Environment, Director, Upstream Department, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Director/Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department, Federal Ministry of Environment ODEM, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Senior Planning Officer, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The communique read in part, “That there is the need for various Organizations that have the crude oil refining technology to interact with Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulation Authority in order for them to make presentations on their available technologies, for regulations within the law.

“That the team should further engage with the bodies of artisanal refining representatives for the purpose of reviewing the current state of affairs and proffer solution to the environmental and economic challenge, amongst others.

“That engagement be made with the Governors and Governments of impacted states as well as other sub-national structures for a further solution to the challenges, to curb re-pollution by the models adopted by the sub-nationals.