Leadership

Indigenous petroleum products refinery company, Azikel Refinery has concluded deals with Ventech Engineers International LLC Pasadena, Texas USA, to complete the final stages of its refinery in Nigeria.

The contract was signed last Monday in Houston, Texas USA. Azikel Refinery is backed by Azikel Petroleum, a part of Azikel Group.

The group was among the 22 Private refineries licensed by President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015, with the aim of encouraging local investment in the refinery sector. It is also aimed at creating value in the abundance of crude oil production in Nigeria and creating sufficiency of refined products in the country.

According to a statement by the owners, Azikel refinery is a 12,000 BPSD Hydro-skiing refinery, with the production of PMS (petrol), Diesel (AGO), Kerosene, Aviation Fuel and liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) both for domestic and industrial use.

The company has progressed far in the actualisation of the objective of building their refinery for operation. The development of Azikel Refinery has progressed from the first stage licensing which is License to Establish(LTE) and has moved on to the second stage licensing, Approval to Construct(ATC). These progressive milestones, were secured with the completion of both the FEED and DED for the OSBL and ISBL. Azikel Petroleum having completed the Front End Engineering Design and also the Detailed Engineering Design(DED) of both the Inside Battery Limit (ISBL) by Ventech Engineers International LLC in Pasadena, Texas as well as the Outside Battery Limit (OSBL) by MUC Oil and Gas Consultancy firm. Having reached this advanced stage, The Directorate of Petroleum Resources(DPR)has continuously monitored the progress of Azikel Refinery for the construction of the project. Azikel Petroleum has completed the land preparation and clearing.

Azikel Refinery situated adjacent to Gbarain-Ubie Shell Gas Gathering Facility has since completed the land clearing and de-stumping. The reclamation and sand-filling campaign of 50 hectares of land has been completed. Other ancillary works and Utilities as designed in the OSBL has reached 55 percent completion.

Azikel Refinery is a Hydro-skimming Refinery Complex, with modular configuration, Azikel Refinery is classified as Nelson 4.9 complexities. The simultaneous development of OSBL and the ISBL has advanced Azikel petroleum to a time and scheduled completion for 2018.

The Inside Battery Limit(ISBL), the main processing modules of refinery is being manufactured by Ventech Engineers International LLC in Texas. At the contract signing /ceremony in Pasadena, Texas, the President of Ventech Engineering International LLC, Ian Anderson assures the Group President of Azikel Group, Dr. Eruani Azibapu, who was present with the Executive and Non-Executive Directors of Azikel Group, a host of US based investors and businessmen as well as Nigerian community in the United States that the refinery when completed will be one of the best optimally operated refineries and with high grade quality refined product. The refinery will be completed in 22 months on schedule.

The Azikel Refinery upon completion will increase the supply of refined petroleum products to the Nigerian market. It is hoped that full operation of the refinery will alleviate the scarcity of petroleum products in the immediate area of operation and Nigeria. Azikel Group President, Dr Eruani Azibapu, assured Nigerians present at the event, that Azikel Refinery will be a pivot of change, it will create employment in the Niger Delta region and will create industrialisation of the region. Dr Eruani also emphasise the need for continuous effort in adding value to the Nigerian crude oil as to ensuring that Nigeria will become self-sufficient nation with refined products. The Director of Investment and Strategy, Mr. Richard Howarth requested Ventech Engineering and the US based investors and businessmen to assist the Nigerian companies who which to create value to the Nigerian economy. Mr. Richard Howarth also assured Nigerians that as a British citizen with the Azikel Group, the Azikel Refinery project will be completed on schedule and will operate with International best practice aimed at creating value and sustainability.

The emphases of the dividend of Azikel Refinery in the Nigerian economy are enormous. It will be a change, example; it will other secondary businesses, employment and industrialisation of the region. Azikel Refinery in the construction phase will employ over 500 workers and upon completion, will create 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier employment and other associate businesses.

It is expected that when all the private refineries licensed by President Mohammadu Buhari comes upspring, Nigeria will take its pride place in Africa to creating energy sufficiency and subsequent supply of refinery products to the rest of Africa. Azikel Refinery is expected to commence production in 2018. The Azikel Petroleum team is committed to the completion schedule as the company is working assiduously with the various EPC contracting firms of international repute. The funding of the Azikel Refinery is being secured from Exim Bank, EPC contractor financing and Export Credit Agencies.

Azikel Petroleum that is licensed with the 12,000 BPSD Hydro-skiing refinery is part of Azikel Group. Azikel Group consists of Azikel Dredging, Azikel Air, Azikel Power and Azikel Petroleum.  The Group commenced business in the sand, aggregate and mining industry, with the supply of sand to the construction industries for building houses and roads. The Group later expanded into main scale reclamation and dredging services, with Azikel Dredging Nig Ltd, they have been successful in business for over 15 years and have built a relationship with international manufacturers and suppliers. Azikel Group operations has enjoyed immersed support for Export Credit Agencies and International Financing Institutions in the supply of new dredgers and booster stations for the company dredging activities. Also, Azikel Air, which provide VIP/Offshore helicopter services as well as unscheduled flight services, is a constituent part of Azikel Group. Azikel Group is also an investor in the power generation sector, having also been licensed with 500MW on grid power generation to Azikel Power by the President Mohammadu Buhari Administration.

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