Chris Awhawha
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said President of the Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, broke the jinx in establishing the Azikel Modular Refinery, which is the first crude oil-related industry in the state.
Senator Diri gave the commendation on Tuesday when he visited the refinery complex located at Obunagha in Yenagoa Local Government Area for the first time.
The governor commended Eruani’s business acumen, noting that the abundance of crude in the state would eliminate losses and other impediments to smooth operations of the refinery.
He also stated that the refinery had changed the status of the state in its industrialisation drive and that it met the dreams of its founding fathers.
The Bayelsa helmsman said the refinery would improve the internally generated revenue of the state and create job opportunities for the youths.
He expressed delight that the project was nearing completion and that he would be part of the history of inaugurating the first modular refinery in the state.
According to him, it was an aberration for the state to have abundant crude oil and gas without industries or 24-hour electricity.
He restated his administration’s determination to tackle the electricity challenge and that it was ready to engage investors to revive the state’s gas turbines.
He also advised that development of the state should not be left only in the hands of politicians or government and urged privileged Bayelsans to partner his administration to build the state.
He said: “Dr. Eruani has established a modular refinery here in Bayelsa State and not in any other state. Let me on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State congratulate you and thank you for this bold step to make our dreams come to pass.
“This is what our state’s founding fathers and all of us have been talking
about. We cannot have crude oil and gas on our soil and not have electricity or industry in the state.
“You have broken the jinx and I am sure the younger generation will follow your footsteps.
“Development is not done by the government alone. It is done in partnership with the private sector. That is why we are very glad that you are partnering the state government in developing Bayelsa State. Like you rightly said, this will bring job opportunities here and taxes will be paid to the state government.
“I have often said that you do not need to lay pipes too far away from where you have the raw materials. Elementary economics taught us about nearness to source of raw materials. This is the knowledge and benefit in siting the refinery just a stone’s throw from the crude. Eruani knows where the problem was because he is from Bayelsa. He understands that by siting his industry close to where the raw material is, it is going to be cost-effective and will not face a lot of challenges.
“Now if they call businessmen in Nigeria, I will say I also have Dr Eruani in my state. I invite our businessmen from Bayelsa that are doing well outside the state to also come home to affect lives, create jobs and join hands with the government to develop the state”
Earlier, Dr. Eruani said the refinery is worth over $850 million and currently has about 400 foreign and local employees at the site.
The Azikel Group president explained that one of the reasons he established the refinery was to add value to the Nigerian crude oil, create employment and to industrialise the state.
Eruani said the refinery was unique as it is the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa to refine condensate apart from petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, saying it has equally placed Bayelsa among the critical states that would contribute to the industrial base for petroleum sufficiency in the country.
He assured that the state would not have product scarcity when the refinery commences operation.
The group’s president, who took the governor and his entourage on a tour of the facility, appealed for partnership with the state government to dualise the road leading to the complex for easy transportation of refined products.