As part of efforts to make Nigeria a net exporter of refined petroleum products, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is working out modalities to partner with the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE) to build condensate refineries, the corporation has said.
Mele Kyari ,the group managing director of the NNPC, dropped the hint when he received the national executives of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE) led by its President, Onochie Anyaoku, at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.
Condensate refineries work differently from the conventional ones. This is because crude condensate is so light that it appears that it has already been partly distilled and its heavy parts removed.
Kyari said the corporation was willing to tap from the abundant expertise and experiences of the Chemical Society in order to ramp up the refining capacity of the country.
“We will keep the flag flying and take the NNPC to the next level by delivering value to the Nigerian people. The NNPC Group is willing and ready to work with NSChE to ensure that the corporation remains a going concern. We look forward to every support that we can get from you,” the GMD stated.
He assured that the NNPC would collaborate with the Society to build skilled workforce, for the corporation and the entire country through capacity building workshops and seminars.
Earlier, the NSChE President, Anyaoku, congratulated the NNPC boss on his appointment and assured him and his management of the Society’s support to confront the enormous challenges facing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.
“It is therefore appropriate that we seek ways to support your group not just to heighten awareness of numerous NNPC’s achievements, but also to find a suitable framework to leverage your efforts,” Anyaoku said.
Meanwhile Paul McGrath, the chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil companies in Nigeria, has expressed optimism on the future of the business relationship between his company and NNPC under the Mele Kyari-led Management team.
McGrath, during a courtesy visit to the NNPC boss yesterday in Abuja, stated that he foresaw good days ahead under the new NNPC GMD.
The ExxonMobil helmsman explained that early signals based on the study of Kyari’s rich action plans anchored on collaborative approach with stakeholders indicated that the future would not only be profitable but would usher in new levels of investments and growth in the Industry.
He pledged the support of all ExxonMobil companies and affiliates in Nigeria to ensure a smooth sail and desired outcomes for the GMD’s vision and aspirations for the Sector.
Welcoming the delegation, Kyari described ExxonMobil as one of NNPC’s best partners, noting that the corporation would work assiduously with the company to ensure that it returns to its position as the biggest producer of crude oil in Nigeria.
On the recently liquidated NNPC outstanding cash call obligations to ExxonMobil, the NNPC GMD commended the company’s management for its support through the period of indebtedness while assuring that the corporation would never go back to that path.
Olusola Bello
