TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says the country will commission two modular refineries between this year and 2022 in line with his administration’s roadmap on local refining.

The president said this on Friday during a nationwide broadcast to mark the country’s 61st independence anniversary.

He said by the end of 2020, a modular refinery will be commissioned in Edo State, while the third scheduled for next year is under construction in Bayelsa state.

In November 2020, Buhari had inaugurated the 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) Waltersmith modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo state.

Buhari said the modular refineries would complement the two mega refineries being built in Lagos and Akwa Ibom states.

He added that their completion would lead to job creation and increased availability of petroleum products for local consumption.

“Nigeria’s Roadmap on Local Refining is on track with the Commissioning of a Modular refinery in Imo State,” Buhari said.

“A second is scheduled for commissioning by the end of this year in Edo State and the third one in Bayelsa State by 2022.

“In addition to the modular projects, we also have the two mega refinery projects coming up in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States.

“As these refineries are commissioned, more employment opportunities are created and there would be increased petroleum products available for local consumption, which will significantly reduce our reliance on importation.”