The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Barau Mikanti has said Nigeria will start importing petroleum products from the Niger republic to Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) for refining.
This according to him would serve as an alternative to crude oil supply to KRPC which its supply had been affected by incessant vandalism of pipelines carrying crude oil from the Niger-Delta region and aging.
Mikanti who disclosed this to newsmen in Kaduna recently also revealed that, the project will involve the building of 1000 kilometers of pipelines from Agadam in Niger to Kaduna.
According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari has made several contacts with the President of Niger Republic. We are talking with Niger Minister of petroleum and with the Chinese Company operating in Agadam.
“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery have been epileptic. This, we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of pipelines of over 1, 000 kilometers from Agadam to Kaduna,” he stated.
Mikanti further revealed that some investors have shown interest in building another refinery of 50,000 barrels per day capacity in Kano, but efforts are also made in order to convince them to locate it in Kaduna for greater synergy. He said: “The intention is to build around Kano but we think there is greater synergy to what I have seen here. I am more convinced they will benefit from some of the utilities of Kaduna refinery.
While at the Kaduna state Government house, the GMD applauded the contributions of politicians in their effort to end pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and call on Kaduna state government to do more in sensitizing its citizens on the dangers of destroying oil facilities.
In a remark, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai, expressed dismay over NNPC’s previous Involvement in corruption, and call on the new leadership to do more in restoring the lost glory of the company.
