The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Thursday joined the Authority Chief Executive (ACE) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Mohammed,
to visit the Waltersmith modular refinery at Ohaji- Egbema, Imo State.
The visit was to inspect the newly completed expansion of the firm’s refining capacity, from 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 10,000 bpd.
NCDMB invested equity in the Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited’s modular refinery in 2018 and helped catalyze the investment, leading to the commissioning of the first phase of the plant in November 2020.
NCDMB also participated in the expansion, which is now completed and operational, producing AGO (diesel) Household kerosine (HHK), HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil) and Naphtha.
The refinery has to date supplied over 1.1 billion litres of refined products to local and regional markets, helping to strengthen Nigeria’s and West Africa’s energy security and contributing immensely to the national economy.
The Director Legal Services NCDMB, Dr Naboth Onyesoh represented the Executive Secretary and conveyed the Board’s delight at the success of Waltersmith modular refinery. He described the firm as a model in local content implementation, especially in direct and in-direct job creation, industrialization, import substitution and value addition to crude oil and gas resources.
Abdulrazak Isa, Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman, said the visit was organised to showcase the completed facility to NMDPRA’s new leadership and its partner, NCDMB and unveil its next developmental phase.
He announced the firm’s plan to commence two further phases of expansion, which will include the construction of 30,000 barrels per day condensate refinery and an industry park, which will accommodate other gas based firms. He said the firm will develop a gas line that will deliver 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, and provide an embedded captive power, to attract industries to co-locate in the industrial park.
He sought approvals from the NMDRA for the upcoming developments.
The Authority Chief Executive expressed his delight at the success of the facility and promised the agency’s support to the expansion plans.
He said the midstream sector of the petroleum industry held the key to the nation’s economic development, adding that the establishment of such projects is the dream of every administration.
