PTI to develop modular refinery

The Federal Government through the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) yesterday announced plans to establish a modular refinery which when completed will present the industry with an outstanding world – class training facility in the West African sub-region.

PTI Principal, Dr. Henry Adimula, broke the news in Abuja at the ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the institute.

He noted that it will result in compelling attraction for expertise training and know -how in refining and petrochemical operations and thus promoting the institute as a hub of On the Job Training (OJT) and also attracting business interests from operators, contractors, consultancy requisite for oil and production outfits.

According to him, this is coming on the heels of the potential Public Private Partnership (PPP) prospects on modular refinery.

He said “The Ministry of Petroleum Resources in an effort to address this problem with the 7 BIG WINS agenda, under which short and long term plans were developed to increase the local refining capacity and gradually attain self-sufficiency in terms of petroleum fuel products supply.”

Adimula added that in order to provide an end-to-end fitting solution to meet the potential PPP prospects in minits LNG plant, PTI intends to acquire the full installation of a 200 metric tons/day LNG production plant through its PPP initiative.

Listing PTI achievements, the principal said the institute offered training to the erstwhile Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Nigerian Aipoh Oil Company and for Machinists and fitters for their jobs.

Presently, according to him, the institute has embarked on a training program for NLNG staff for a span of two years.

Speaking, the chairman of the occasion, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha said after the PTI 50 years of service in the industry, the country does not have the same luxury of time and resources to get to where it needs to be in the energy transition.

He said “the time now required for us to get to where we are is no longer available for us to catch up.”

He tasked the institute on renewable energy development renewable energy skills.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kyari said the institute requires sufficient funding to achieve its plans.

He urged the oil and gas companies to support the PTI with financial assistance.

He said “Nothing works without financing. Everything we say here will not be executed if you don’t have money.

“You can’t even conduct the research except you have the resources. I know the oil industry has been supporting the PTI but it is also very important that the industry should come to their aide.”

He said gone are the days that the NNPCL had challenges of information on its facilities, noting that the company now has security around its assets.

Kyari however noted that additional security on the facilities will be useful to the company.

His words: “There is no lack of information today.” Today, in NNPC we have security around all our assets. We see all the barriers. We are happy that we are collaborating with all the security agencies. But additional capacity for detection is needed and will also be very useful.”