The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on Monday announced its commitment to provide leadership in establishing private refineries.
The IPMAN National President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, said the association had acquired more than 1,000 hectares in Kogi and Bayelsa for the proposed US$3 billion (N495 billion) refineries.
IPMAN had earlier in July concluded a business deal with some international investors to build two refineries worth about three billion Dollars at Itobe, Kogi, and Abbe in Bayelsa.
The foreign investors had conducted feasibility studies on the project in August. Mr. Okoronkwo said the Federal Government had through the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, welcomed the
investor’s initiative to commence work on the two refineries.
He urged the Ministry of Power to support the IPMAN refinery initiative by providing the sites access to the national grid. He said when completed in 24 months, the refineries would initially produce about 200,000 barrels of petrol per day.
Mr. Okoronkwo said that IPMAN’s aim is to contribute in the management of existing national capital flight that characterised the oil and gas sector following the absence of a functional refinery.
“The cost of taking crude and bringing it back as refined products will be reduced. We want government to give us the necessary licences and enabling environment to operate,” he said.
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