The Edo Modular Refinery being developed by Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (ERPC) in Ologbo, Ikpoba – Okha Local Government Area of Edo State is set to commence operations.

Governor Godwin Obaseki recently gave the assurance shortly after he was conducted round the facilities by the Managing Director in charge of the refinery, Mr. Tim Tian.

The 6000bpd Edo Modular refinery is an initiative of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration, which was facilitated with the release of N700 million as renewable preference shares in the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company.

The major products to be sold are Diesel, Naphtha and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO).

There are plans to expand the plant to refine 20,000bpd.

According to the governor, “We travelled to China last three years to sign this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); I am very impressed that work has moved at such an astounding speed, in spite of the delay caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The plant is ready; it’s ready to receive crude oil; it’s ready to process and it’s ready to deliver products. They have done the pre-commissioning with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). They have certified the refinery as ready for production.

“What we have left now is to finalise the crude oil sale contract. These facilities have to get a certain type of crude from the Escravos line and that is being finalized. I hope that before the end of August, we should start lifting products from these facilities.”

Also, the traditional ruler of Ologbo community, His Royal Highness (HRH), Prince Owen Akenzua, said that he is glad that a project of such magnitude is sited in his community.

“My people are excited that such a project will go a long way in improving the socio-economic development of our community. The governor has this project dear to his heart; not only this project the power plant is also situated in Ologbo.

“The OSSIOMO power plant is capable of generating power for the immediate environment and the state at large; we are glad that this project is sited here,” he said.

In his response, the Managing Director of the Edo Modular Refinery, Tim Tian, commended the governor for his contribution in the actualization of the project.

Tian, who attributed the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic as a major challenge which affected the project, said the refinery is ready to produce crude oil products.