Kachikwu inaugurates $50m modular refinery in Akwa Ibom State

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday inaugurated a $50 Million modular refinery Ikwe-Onna Refinery with a 5000 B/D day capacity in Ikwe village of Onna local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

Kachukwu, who was assisted by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, commended the effort of Ikwe-Onna Refinery, for a project of that magnitude, saying the federal government is ever ready to support such gesture.

He said such initiative, following due process, will always be encouraged by the federal government to ensure that the challenges of crude oil refining become a thing of the past. On his part the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, said the federal government will;” want to encourage local content in the petroleum sector with a view to achieving regular supply products.”The federal government, he noted, will assist any entrepreneur, innovation and technology from the private sector in its quest to achieving sustainability in fuel supply but will not support illegal production of petroleum products.

“There are always policies in place for the establishment of refineries and except you have all these policies in place and pass through the due process before you start anything otherwise the federal government will be very angry with whatever you are doing illegal refinery.”