PIB: FG Holds Summit On Artisanal, Modular Refineries, March 16

Ahead of the next month’s passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly, the Federal Government, yesterday, declared its intention to host a national summit on the integration of artisanal, modular refineries in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Abuja, said most of the issues to be addressed are such issues that will require legislation.
According to him, the conference is intended to formally announce the convening and holding of a national conference on artisanal and modular refineries in the country for the purpose of integrating local refining capacity into the refining of petroleum products in Nigeria, namely petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petro chemical products.
He added that the essence of the conference is to mobilize all Nigerian assets, including technologies engineers, intellectuals of all disciplines, including persons who have been operating, handling and producing petroleum products at the creeks.
“Their works are damaging to the environment, we call them illegal refinery operators. They are also called domestic refinery owners operators of Nigeria and they are represented here by their chairman, we have mobilized them and they will be present at the event”, he said.
Enang stated that the conference will be holding on March 16 and 17, 2021, at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
He emphasized that the intent of the conference is to mobilize resources that can bring the price of petroleum products to as low as N100 per litre.
“As the cost of crude goes higher, the cost of refined petroleum products goes higher, if we refine these petroleum products in Nigeria the cost will be very low”, he added.
Enang, however, explained that the urgency of hosting the conference is because the National Assembly has promised to pass the PIB, by April this year.
He said, “Most of the issues that are going to be addressed are such issues that will require legislation.
“The urgency is so that any agreement that is reached which requires legislation will be accommodated in the PIB. Most of the issues we are going to address are relevant to existing laws in the petroleum industry.”
Enang said that the Office of the Adviser of Niger Delta Affairs is in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, led by the minister in organizing the conference, mobilizing and pulling together the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Environment.