Eight committees inaugurated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are tasked to return Nigeria’s three refineries to 90 per cent capacity utilisation before the end of 2019.
A statement issued Wednesday by Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC spokesman on behalf of Maikanti Baru, group managing director says the committees are also charged with the responsibility of rehabilitating the nation’s refineries to achieve their “optimal levels of performance.
Baru further charged the committees to deploy “out of the box solutions” in revamping the refineries, and observed that the committee was to return to 90 per cent capacity utilization, it could with more commitment still achieve 100 per cent capacity utilization.
He also charged the committees to deliver well and within schedule, adding that time was of the essence.
Baru said “I am convinced that the teams we have selected here today will give the necessary direction towards returning the refineries back to their optimal levels of performance,”
We want to show everyone that we can fully run the refineries. You must all work together to operate them at 100 per cent capacity as this was the only way to ensure profitability.
We can fix the refineries but without the right people to operate them, they would go back to where they were or even worse.”
Anibor Kragha, chief operating officer, refineries and petrochemicals, said more than 28 expressions of interest had been received so far for the financing of the rehabilitation project, adding that the goal was to get more by the end of 2017.
Kragha also said the 2019 target was “the first time in 20 years”, and that there was both the political will and the economic climate to ensure effective rehabilitation of the refineries, stating “Payment is therefore hinged on performance, ensuring a win-win situation for Nigeria.”
