The federal government on Thursday said construction work has now started on OPAC Modular Refinery in Kwale, Delta State.
The FG made this known today saying the construction work was according to President Muhammadu Buhari’s new vision for the Niger Delta.
According to the FG, one of the focus areas of Buhari’s new vision for the Niger Delta is enabling the establishment of private modular refineries.
President @MBuhari’s New Vision for the Niger Delta is on course. One of the focus areas is ENABLING the establishment of private modular refineries. Construction work has now started on OPAC Modular Refinery in Kwale, Delta State. Follow @ndnewvision for updates.#NDNewVision pic.twitter.com/s2KZTdQLKn
Advertisement— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 26, 2018
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said in a statement that the refinery, being promoted by Pillar Oil Limited, Omsa Limited and Astek Limited, will process 7,000 barrels per stream day of crude oil when completed.
The modular refinery, expected to come on stream in the fourth quarter of this year, DPR said 7,000bpsd of crude, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes of crude oil annually, would come from Pillar facility in Kwale.
“The facility is expected to come on stream in the third quarter 2018 and the DPR has granted it requisite approvals: approval to relocate plant and approval to construct plant in line with our effective regulatory process and in alignment with government’s aspiration to stimulate economic growth,” the agency said on Wednesday.
More photos of the the 7,000-bpsd OPAC Modular Refinery being built in Kwale, Delta State. The Refinery is scheduled to commence operations by Q4 2018. #NDNewVision pic.twitter.com/CyMTlFjY4F
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 26, 2018
The main products from the refinery will include naphtha, kerosene, diesel and fuel oil fractions.
According to the statement, the refinery facility includes storage depot for crude oil and finished products, and loading terminal.
“The modular straight run refinery consists of the following modules: oil refining unit cru-350; heating furnaces; pumping stations; water cooling system; separation and preparation tanks; storage depot; control room with electrical panel; utilities supply and office facilities including laboratory; and truck-loading station,” the statement added.
The DPR noted that the FG granted 18 refinery licences in 2004, which later grew to 23.