source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/can-make-petrol-sell-n97-per-litre-titi-governor/

Activities of operators of illegal
refineries have been blamed for
the drastic drop in crude oil
production. Illegal refining and
crude theft have grown beyond
the Niger Delta. To stop the trend,
several billions of Naira has been
expended to secure pipelines and
fight oil bunkerers.
There are various schools of
thought on how to curb the
problem. While some opt for use
of military might, others call for
legalizing the process with licences
given to operators. One of the
illegal refinery operators, Chief Titi
Governor, who spoke to Sunday
Vanguard, called for the legalizing
of the operation, insisting that this
will end oil theft, generate
employment and boost the
economy.
Governor, who invented the
electric refining oven with the
capacity to refine over 50, 000
litres of products in one trip,
insisted that illegal refining cannot
be stopped by the destruction of
illegal refineries but the process
can be improved upon.
“This is electric method of refining
introduced by me; it works using
high electrical heating procedure.
God gave me this revelation after
the militancy crisis; you know that
necessity is the mother of
invention.
A thought came one day that if I
could construct a refinery using
electric heaters, it will work and
refine better than the fire wood
heating employed by others. That
was how I started the process.
Refining has semblance to alcohol
refining whereby palm wine is
heated to become local gin
(Ogogoro). That is the experiment
and it works for me,” he stated.
He continued:
How I came about the
technology
“I am a seaman who had travelled
far and wide. While travelling
round the world, I studied the
white man refining over there. I
adopted his method because it
does not flare gas to pollute the
environment.
It has a method of harnessing the
gas during the refining process
through a special pipe provision
and conversion method. Unlike
our local refiners who pollute the
environment, my method is
sophisticated and efficient. I use
350KVA heater in the oven. I
installed two of such powered by
two big plants, each for one
heater.
My refining capacity
“I can produce 50,000 litres per
trip while my oven can produce
about four trips in 24 hours,
which is about 200, 000 litres in a
day. I started with two heaters
because the system requires a lot
of voltage. I intended to install
eight heaters before the military
Joint Task Force came to destroy
the place.
I had a gigantic crude storage tank
which I constructed with about
N8million; it has the capacity to
store eight trucks, which is about
264,000 litres. The idea was
conceived after discovering that
Geepee tanks usually catch fire
and, because we are safety
conscious and don’t want any
form of industrial accident, we
opted for steel plate tanks.
When crude boat comes, we
offload them into the storage tank
from where we start operation- so
that the boat can go and bring
another consignment of crude.
My method is unique
“My method refines quality petrol,
kerosene, diesel and gas. The
quality of my product is better
than what they produce in
government refineries because we
took samples of the products to
laboratory for test. We actually
did the sample test before we
started mass production, though
production never lasted for over
two weeks before the military
came to destroy all my efforts.
How we get crude
“We have many sources where we
get crude. We get from anywhere.
Getting the crude is not difficult.
We know that it is from illegal
source but it is our area where
the crude is being extracted and
we know the method of getting it.
Cost of oven
“I spent a lot of money to
construct the electric oven (kiln). I
bought the plates in Warri,
transported them to the location.
I paid tips along the water ways
before the welder’s charges. The
oven cost over N11million to
construct.
Government needs to licence
our operation
“The business is a very profitable
one; I can pay staff even better
than Chevron and Shell Petroleum
Development Company, SPDC, if
given licence to operate. We will
create jobs and can stop sea
pirates as a lot of youths will be
gainfully engaged in the refining
business.
I believe strongly that kidnapping,
prostitution and armed robbery
will also become a thing of the
past. Our business has the ability
to engage both skilled and
unskilled persons, no one will risk
his life when there is genuine
means of livelihood. We pay per
drum refined and it is daily
payment. Before the destruction,
we made good money.
Business feasible not because
crude is free
“The business is very profitable.
We pay for the crude. But if
government gives us licence, the
cost of crude will be a bit higher
but this also means our price for
finished products will increase a
little. So anyhow it goes, it is a
very lucrative business.
We can stop importation of
refined products
“We can meet the regulatory
standard if our operation is
licenced. And if government
approves our operation, we can
stop importation of refined
products, grow the economy as
we will have all the required
professionals too. It is a win-win
situation, the standard will even
be higher because we will have
power and encouragement to
improve on the refining method
we have adopted. We assure the
price of petrol will be reduced
from the present N97 per litre and
there will never be fuel scarcity in
the country. We will even grow the
economy faster as we will begin to
export refined products.
We can build modular refineries
“For now we can’t build modular
refineries, but if government
assists us we can do it. The
important issue is that our
operation be legalized by giving us
licence.
My decision to speak out is borne
out of the fact that the daily
destruction of these local
refineries is not the solution; so
doing can only push the operators
into stealing. Since we have the
ability to refine and build the
national economy and create jobs,
we have to cry out . This is brain
development by the Ijaw people, it
cannot die, it should be
developed. Destruction of illegal
refineries does more harm and
pollution than the refiners, the
Federal Government has to do
something about it.
I had over 25 workers. But since
the destruction of my camp, they
have all been thrown into hunger.
Government should look into this
issue. I feed and accommodate
my staff and they are happy. I pay
N1, 000 to the workers per drum;
if two workers produce 40 drums
over night, they have N40, 000. So
you can imagine if they produce
100 drums for 24 hours.
No accident
“We have safety personnel in our
operation I worked as a safety
officer at sea, so we don’t
compromise safety. We didn’t
recorded any accident during our
brief operation. We regulate our
oven fire very well since it is
electrical; we ensure every
standard of safety is maintained.
I have three years experience
“I started refining business three
years ago using the local
technique. So the money I made I
used it to improve the method.
But just after investing heavily in
this new method, my camp was
destroyed and I lost everything.
We don’t collaborate with the
military in our activities, they
obstruct our operation. We are
fishermen and God gave us this
technology, so government should
see reason and support us; it is
like our own way of farming.

Sauce or ADONBELIVIT #I SCHOOLED IN FRANCE