Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Tuesday hailed the Federal Government’s decision to set up modular refineries in each oil-producing state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dickson disclosed this at the Subsea Nations and Africa Oil and Gas Investment Forum, a side event at the ongoing annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston-Texas, U.S.
According to him, it is brilliant idea that will not only create more jobs but increase the economic fortunes of Nigeria and Bayelsa will lead the way to invest in refineries in its three senatorial zones.
The governor assured that the modular refineries, when fully on stream, would also curb the illegal refining of petroleum products that pervaded the region for years and reduce casualties associated with such risk.
He said that because of the laudable initiative, his government had fully embraced it by setting up a company, Bayelsa Petrochemical and Refinery Company Limited, to partner with willing investors to ensure that the refineries are established and up and running.
The governor further applauded the Federal Government’s call on the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate their operational offices to the base of their operations in the Niger Delta.
He said the move would ensure better relationship among people in the region and the IOCs.
Dickson assured investors of a secured environment and strategic investment opportunities that had been put in place to drive investment in that sector.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive pointed out that the participation of his state in the OTC was strategic as it afforded it the opportunity to meet and leverage with prospective investors on various opportunities provided by his government.
He said Bayelsa had in abundance gas feed stock to power the modular refineries.
“It is interesting to note that we already have more than enough gas in abundance to deliver the three modular refineries, so we are good to go.
“We assure prospective investors that all investments would be fully secured and also allay fears expressed on threats to destruction of pipelines.
“To a large extent, as a state government, given our strategic and massive investment in security over the last five years, we make bold to say that our state is one of the safest in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
“So would-be investors have nothing to worry about,” he assured.
The governor announced that the Kolo Creek Gas plant, which is the first independent power plant in the country, had been running for years.
He also listed the opportunities available in the state to drive investments in modular refineries, power plants and allied petrochemical industries.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, in another media interaction with newsmen, said the Federal Government was committed to building one modular refinery in each oil producing state. (NAN)