The
Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu-led National Refineries Special Task Force has said
that 28 out of the 35 investors given licences by the Federal
Government to establish refineries in the country lack the capacity to
do so.
This
was contained in the committee’s report presented to President Goodluck
Jonathan on Friday by the committee’s alternate chairman, Mallam Yusuf
Ali.
“We
have examined 35 people who have applied, who were given licences to
operate refineries; unfortunately, we examined and we found only seven
that may be capable of setting up refineries,” Ali said.
He
said to ensure self-sufficiency in petroleum products’ production; the
country needed three more refineries that should be established either
by the government or private investors.
The refineries, he added, should be established in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states.
Ali
said, “We have also made a recommendation that there is a need to have
three more refineries in the country. We suggested the biggest refinery
should be sited in Lagos, the medium size should be sited in Bayelsa;
another small size refinery be sited in Kogi State.
“So, we have recommended the setting up of three refineries, either by the government or anybody as soon as possible.”
The
committee also suggested the immediate privatisation of existing
refineries in the country, which should be done within 18 months.
It, however, warned that the interest of Nigerians must be considered in the process of privatising the refineries.
Ali said, “We should not sell everything to foreigners. Government must have some shares in those privatised refineries.
“Eventually,
those shares held by the government should be sold to Nigerians on the
stock exchange when the time comes so that every Nigerian who has N20 or
N30 will be proud to say they have shares in these refineries.”
The committee also made a case for the privatisation of petroleum pipelines and depots.
It also called for increased security of the refineries to safeguard them and the refined products.
“We
sincerely believe that if these steps are taken, shortages of petroleum
products, black marketing and so on will be a thing of the past,” Ali
said.
Also,
the Mr. Dotun Suleiman-led Task Force on Governance and Control has
suggested the establishment of six industry institutions in the
post-Petroleum Industry Bill era.
Suleiman
listed the institutions to include the National Petroleum Directorate,
Nigerian Petroleum Inspectorate, Petroleum Asset Management Company,
National Oil Company, Nigeria Content and Capacity Development Agency
and National Frontier Exploration Services Unit.
PUNCHNG
