₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Wednesday announced the granting of an additional 5,000 barrels per day licence to Waltersmith located in Ibigwe, Imo State.

In a statement on its X handle, the midstream and downstream regulator stated that the approval was granted in phase two of the plant’s development, but noted that the next phase will begin in 2025.

The modular refinery with a 5,000 barrels per day production capacity achieved under the Phase1 development, had been undergoing expansion to 10,000bpd with a target to further ramp up the capacity to 40,000bpd in the shortest possible time.

“Today, the Authority granted a License to Construct (LTC) of Phase 2 to Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited.

“Authority Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, stated that Waltersmith operates a topping plant refinery in Ibigwe, Imo State,-with a capacity of 5,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD). This plant produces AGO, DPK, HPFO, and Naphtha.

“The refinery is expected to be commissioned by Q3 2025, and that the refinery plans to expand to Phase 3 immediately after,” he stated.

It also quoted Waltersmith’s Managing Director, Muhammad Musa,as highlighting that the milestone will allow Waltersmith to double its current capacity.Musa expressed gratitude to both the Waltersmith and NMDPRA teams for their support and noted that the achievement reflects the government’s confidence in their capabilities.

“ The company assures Nigerians of its dedication to finding new ways to contribute value to the country,” the NMDPRA noted in the message.

Meanwhile, the federal government has inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), and Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) power project to oversee the utilisation, implementation and establishment of Gas Power Projects in local government areas across the nation.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Nicholas Ella highlighted NDE’s strong focus on vocational skills development programme, a core mandate that aligns with NGEP’s Gas-preneurship initiative

He explained that the Gaspreneurship initiative, developed by NGEP, encompasses the art and science of all aspects of the gas value chain, including exploration, production, transmission, and distribution.

The TWG will drive the implementation of this initiative, fostering collaboration among NGEP, NDE, and ALGON to promote gas-based economic development and job creation in local communities.

“The comprehensive training component covers:- Entire gas streams and operating principles- audit of machinery and equipment types and capacity for suitable system installation and calibration,” he stated.

The gaspreneurship Initiative would conclude with the provision of starter packs, including diagnostic tools and equipment, and identification of appropriate workshops and business incubation centres in local government areas nationwide and this would enable trainee gaspreneurs to become employers of labour upon graduation, he added.

The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the NGEP, ALGON and NDE TWG include: To identify clear areas of intervention along the gas value chains that can transform the socio-economics of the LGAs; design a simple energy (power and transportation) audit template for determining the energy requirements of the LGAs as well as design a selection criterion for LGAs to participate in the various phases of the implementation of these initiatives, among others.

Membership of the Technical Working Group (TWG) which were drawn from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NDE and ALGON comprise of Chairman of NGEP, Prof. M. M. Ibrahim, Assistant Director (Information) Mr. Christopher Ugwuegbulam, among others.

Source: https://www.arise.tv/nigeria-grants-additional-5000-bpd-licence-to-waltersmith-refinery-in-owerri/

It's good to see Waltersmith gradually expanding until it hits its target of 40k bpd.

While Bua works on its refinery in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa need modular refineries because the entire country cannot depend on Dangote.

Modular refineries in the two regions can service the entire South East and South South while Dangote serves the West, north and international markets.

Waltersmith should also start refining PMS; perhaps they are closely monitoring the NNPC Vs Dangote saga before taking that decision.

Whatever happened to the Warri Refinery which NNPCL assured us would go-live back in August?

So why is the license does not include PMS, for a petrochemical plant not to produce an essential commodity like petrol says alot

This is to tell you that our leaders does not want our good as a people

Exclusion of pms speaks volumes.why are these people so mean? From beginning they have started their shenanigans movement.

okeyley:
So why is the license does not include PMS, for a petrochemical plant not to produce an essential commodity like petrol says alot This is to tell you that our leaders does not want our good as a people

...

oskopy:
Exclusion of pms speaks volumes.why are these people so mean? From beginning they have started their shenanigans movement.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/topping-refinery

okeyley:
So why is the license does not include PMS, for a petrochemical plant not to produce an essential commodity like petrol says alot

This is to tell you that our leaders does not want our good as a people

What are they going to refine in the plant if petrol is not there?

Kobojunkieee:
...https://www.britannica.com/technology/topping-refinery

Your argument is clever by half. Go to an average filling or petrol station and ask them the quantities of AGO (diesel) DPK (kerosene) and PMS (petrol) they sell. We all know that petrol is still sells much more than all of them.

Now let me assume that your preposition is correct. How can a plant grow upto 40,000 bpd without having plans to incoporate PMS the king of the products

Guy stop defending rubbish. If na this is the size of your sense, then it is so small

Ojiofor:
What are they going to refine in the plant if petrol is not there?

One Internet daft quoted me to justify the company's products that excluded PMS. He also forgot that 2 of such modular refineries in Edo state complained that they are not allowed to produce PMS even when they have capacity to do such. But they can do any other products is that not wickedness on the side of our government

Proliferation of modular refineries under a well supervised/regulated government will help generate revenue, create employment, lessen fax and curb fuel scarcity.

okeyley:
■ Your argument is clever by half. Go to an average filling or petrol station and ask them the quantities of AGO (diesel) DPK (kerosene) and PMS (petrol) they sell. We all know that petrol is still sells much more than all of them.
Now let me assume that your preposition is correct. How can a plant grow upto 40,000 bpd without having plans to incoporate PMS the king of the products
Guy stop defending rubbish. If na this is the size of your sense, then it is so small

First, understand what a topping plant also called a low conversion/hydroskimming plant is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qSMXOl3qjA

k

Kobojunkieee:
First, understand what a topping plant also called a low conversion/hydroskimming plant is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qSMXOl3qjA

I am not arguing from your own standpoint but I am talking to you as an entrepreneur and also from the engineering economics standpoint. Whatso ever video or online tutorial you like paste here it does not invalidate the point I have made on the government stand on modular refineries in Nigeria know this and cure your self of your ignorance

okeyley:
So why is the license does not include PMS, for a petrochemical plant not to produce an essential commodity like petrol says alot

This is to tell you that our leaders does not want our good as a people

Nothing to do with government.

Modular refineries do not have the technology to produce petrol and most petrochemicals.

They are too small.

okeyley:
I am not arguing from your own standpoint but I am talking to you as an entrepreneur and also from the engineering economics standpoint. Whatso ever video or online tutorial you like paste here it does not invalidate the point I have made on the government stand on modular refineries in Nigeria know this and cure your self of your ignorance

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. You need to educate yourself on the capacity and capabilities of modular refineries.
Anybody can claim to be anything on the Internet but until you provide a superior argument on the process and workings of modular refineries noone is buying your political argument.

confusedlady:
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. You need to educate yourself on the capacity and capabilities of modular refineries.
Anybody can claim to be anything on the Internet but until you provide a superior argument on the process and workings of modular refineries noone is buying your political argument.

https://www.arise.tv/nnpc-says-modular-refineries-not-producing-petrol-due-to-price-regulation/


This is NNPC submission on it

DeLaRue:
Nothing to do with government.

Modular refineries do not have the technology to produce petrol and most petrochemicals.

They are too small.

This is a well Documented professional review on the Nigerian case

okeyley:
https://www.arise.tv/nnpc-says-modular-refineries-not-producing-petrol-due-to-price-regulation/


This is NNPC submission on it

All I can say to you is that you need to avoid paid public relations department spin doctor articles and understand about various types/varieties of refineries.
You may choose to visit this link below and understand that those kinds of modular refineries are only going to produce low quality,bottom of the barrel petroleum products that will then entail further and costlier processing at superior refineries.

https://thepetrosolutions.com/forums/topic/types-of-oil-refineries/

confusedlady:
All I can say to you is that you need to avoid paid public relations department spin doctor articles and understand about various types/varieties of refineries.
You may choose to visit this link below and understand that those kinds of modular refineries are only going to produce low quality,bottom of the barrel petroleum products that will then entail further and costlier processing at superior refineries.

https://thepetrosolutions.com/forums/topic/types-of-oil-refineries/

Check my reply to delarule

okeyley:
Check my reply to delarule

Guy rest, see as them school you

Small thing u don dey cry say dem marginalize una

EvilMerodack:
Guy rest, see as them school you

Small thing u don dey cry say dem marginalize una

keep changing moniker to talk to me you hear you.



Besides nobody schooled any. I still repeat that modular refineries have capacity to produce PMS