NNPC Targets 650,000bpd Refining Capacity, Opens Bids for Co-location of Plants

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday disclosed that it has opened the technical bids for the location of new refineries within the existing refineries in the country.

The corporation said the move underlines its commitment to boost the nation's refining capacity which in turn would put an end to perennial fuel scarcity in the country.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Refineries, Mr. Anibo Kragha, said the opening bidding exercise was a demonstration of the determination of the Federal Government and the NNPC to increase the nation's refining capacity from 445,000 barrels per day to 650,000.

"The aim is to leverage on the existing facilities to fast track the takeoff of the refineries as soon as possible", Kragha noted.

A statement by the NNPC Spokesman, Garba Deen Mohammed said a technical evaluation committee has been set up to study the bids and announce winners as soon as possible.also that the open bid exercise was a demonstration of the determination of the federal government and NNPC to increase the nation's refining capacity from 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 650,000bpd.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has waded into the crisis that has rocked the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the past two years.

Kachikwu, who met with the two factions of IPMAN in Abuja, raised a 14 man committee and charged them with the task of doing everything possible "to bring back peace to the association at the national, zonal and depot levels."

He noted that as critical stakeholders in the downstream sector, the contribution of IPMAN is crucial in the drive to end the prevailing fuel supply situation across the nation.

The Minister, who called on all members to see IPMAN as one indivisible entity, also charged them to work with relevant government agencies such as the NNPC, DPR and other stakeholders to ensure that the prevailing fuel scarcity "becomes a thing of the past as quickly as possible."

Members of the 14-man reconciliation committee set up by Kachikwu include Danladi Pasali, Dibu Aderigbe, Abubakar Maigandi, Hemmed Fashola, Leo Nkememe, Chukwudi Fred Ezinwa and Chief Ben Odjugo.
Others are Andrew Ashiga, Igwe Ezekwesili Maduaguna, Emma Ihedigbo, M. A. Shettima, Augustine Erhabor, Prince I. Dunuje and Lawson Ngoa.

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