Ogun eyes oil producer status beginning with 100k litres pd output
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Ogun is excited at new prospects of becoming an oil producing state, after years of regretting losing Dangote Refinery to neighbouring Lagos, as another private firm, Gasoline Integrated International (GII), has laid N3 billion on the table to build a refinery on Tongeji Island.
GII Chairman Lukman Bolaji disclosed when he and his directors visited Governor Dapo Abiodun in his office in Oke-Mosan Abeokuta that the firm is into upstream and mainstream and has acquired an oil bloc on Tongeji Island in Ipokia Council.
A statement issued by Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary Kunle Somorin said the plant is planned to refine 100,000 litres of crude oil per day and later expand to 400,000 litres per day, and 800 hectares of land is being acquired for it.
“We are bringing in a capital inflow of N3 billion into the state. We would have been on site by now, but for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With this project, Ogun State will have security and guarantee of petroleum products at all times because we intend to serve our immediate environment before taking it [national]” Bolaji enthused at the meeting.
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Project to create 10,000 jobs, generate electricity
Bolaji said GII will generate 110 megawatts (mw) of power, beginning with 37 mw, create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, boost Ogun’s internally generated revenue, expand infrastructure, and transfer technology to Nigerians, per The Guardian.
The project, expected to be delivered in 36 months, will be powered by Chinese technology and be multinational in nature, with personnel drawn from Nigeria, Taiwan, and the United States.
The Olowu of Owu, Saka Matemilola, who led the delegation, told Abiodun the firm is in Ogun to prospect for oil and build a refinery to enable the state become an oil producer.
Abiodun reiterated Ogun and Lagos combined consume about 70 per cent of national petroleum products and the project is coming after Ogun lost a similar one to Lagos.
He said a government team would liaise with GII for further discussion since “a project like this is not a walk in the park.
“I want to assure you that as an administration whose thrust is encouraging investors, a team to work with your team to deal with issues that may arise will be set up.
“It will be our joy for Ogun State to be an oil producing state. Tongeji is important to us. We are working to ensure that something happens on that Island.”