More
cheering is the news that the refineries are projected to hit their
near-installed capacities in a couple of months. Considering the economic gains
from this and in the light of more than a decade of facility waste following fitful
operations, this is laudable. And from indications, the portents are that the
refineries can and would be run profitably.
The journey
to Nigeria’s sorry pass over the refineries has been a long sad one in which a
nation built for its future with one hand and tears it down with the other. Corruption,
greed, inept management, poor political leadership and many other ills combined
to truncate what was designed as a great future and a potentially great country
into a beggar.
The Port
Harcourt refinery, one of those coming on stream now was denied regular
maintenance over the years and was in such a deplorable condition that to get
back it had to be through the “gradual energizing of component units,”
according to experts. In essence, the damage was so enormous and it would
require more care in handling, and extra funds that could have been saved with
scheduled maintenance is being spent to bring back that facility.
This
notwithstanding, the current rehabilitation efforts should be sustained for
further breakthrough as sustainability is the key to the refineries’ viability.
Nothing must ever stand in the way of their continuous run while conscious
official effort is made to establish higher capacity refineries which would
provide for multi-dimensional layers of job creation and business
opportunities.
Also, this
would encourage the completion of other private refineries by indigenous
investors in Lekki, Lagos. It is completely against all reason for an oil-
producing country to find itself in such a dire situation of complete reliance
on importation of products for about a decade. There is no better way to
advertise leadership deficit and admit, even celebrate, the triumph of
buccaneers whose interest in the country’s economic survival is nil.
Never again
must Nigerians witness the inglorious era of lack amid plenty, where
unscrupulous persons leverage their connection to those in power to
continuously milk the nation while causing misery for fellow citizens.
With the
once-moribund Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) and the Warri Refinery and
Petrochemical Company (WRPC) where improved maintenance activities are yielding
salutary results, Nigeria’s story appears to be changing for the better. PHRC
could be operating at 90 per cent capacity and above by the first quarter of
2016 with the completion of the current rehabilitation. In particular, it is
also reassuring that the major overhaul is being facilitated by competent
in-house human capacity and indigenous contractors.
Interestingly,
reports said some of the already overhauled facilities which have ramped up
production to the current 60 per cent capacity are ready for commissioning in a
few weeks.
The laudable
efforts of the engineers should be an inspiration for further progress for
Nigerians in the oil industry. The WRPC, commissioned in 1978 and upgraded in
1987, is reportedly at 50 per cent production capacity which yields about
4,612,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per day.
Indeed,
Warri refinery is regaining its status as the hub of economic activities in
Warri and environs with the return of the refinery. At installed capacity, it
could do more. This capacity, taken along PHRC’s details and the contribution
from the Kaduna Petroleum Refining Company (KPRC) which is also receiving
attention would go a long way to ameliorate the damage done to Nigeria over the
years. With presumed sound management and transparency in the industry which
President President Buhari is fighting to enthrone, the gap between demand and
supply can then be bridged.
Only
transparent crude oil swap deals that will substantially reduce or totally
eliminate subsidy calls by import-obsessed marketers should be allowed. One
other advantage is that ancillary businesses will spring up in tandem with the
reactivation of the complexes. For instance, the petrochemical plants would be
able to address production of fertilizer and raw materials for plastic
manufacturing and related sectors.
The benefits
of a sustained refinery run are indeed limitless. Apparently, the challenges in
the industry are daunting as well as multi-dimensional, including for instance
engineering control and operations. That, however, cannot and should not be a
hindrance to seamless operations if the tasks are properly handled by the right
personnel. Of course, sabotage in the system is a possibility but could also be
handled. Again, there has always been the challenge of mustering the political
will to allocate enough crude to the refineries because preference had always
been for shady oil swap deals for selfish interests.
The best
technocrats in competence and integrity are needed who would not succumb to
temptations to manipulate the system. They can be found among Nigerian
engineers who must be so encouraged or challenged to give their best.No
self-respecting nation should put its fate in the hands of foreigners in many
sectors even when local experts or professionals are available.
Thousands of
Nigerian professionals are making waves in their assignments on the global
stage – medicine, engineering, sciences, the arts and more – and are being
recognised regularly for their exploits or contributions. The atmosphere at
home should also be made more conducive for many others to excel. Current
developments on the refineries point to a Nigeria finding its bearing and ready
to take the right steps to its glorious destiny. This forward movement must be
sustained. (Guardian)
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