The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday said the Duport Midstream Company Limited (DMCL), an energy park located in Edo State, will go live in July 2022.
Simbi Wabote, executive secretary, NCDMB, while on an inspection tour of the facility alongside other partners in Egbokor, Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State, said the commencement of the refinery is subject to the regulatory agency’s final check and subsequent approval to introduce hydrocarbon into the refinery.
According to him, “The plan is that, on July 18, DPR will come and do the final check in terms of giving us approval to introduce hydrocarbons into the refinery. So, between now and the end of July, this refinery, in addition to the one we have in Ibigwe, will become operational.
“In terms of our modular refinery operation, by July, this one will go live to tell you that there are modular refineries working in the country. This will be the second refinery that will switch on in July. Currently, one of our refineries is working, which is Watersmith modular refinery that is producing 5,000bpd and serving the eastern market.”
The executive secretary, who noted that there has been significant improvements of the facility compared to the last time the board inspected the facility, thanked their partners for the support.
“There have been substantial improvements. In March, we were here to do our inspection and also had a board meeting. During the meeting, the board mandated Duport to carry out a lot of activities with a view to officially commissioning this in June.
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“This is the rainy season and they have got off to work. Between March and now, what I have seen is marked improvements in terms of installation of the Gas Processing Facility (GPF), completion of the refinery installation. This is an energy park with a data center that is currently operational,” Wabote said.
Akintoye Akindele, the chief executive officer of Duport Midstream Company Limited (DMCL), on his part, said commercial production would commence after the final assessment of the facility is done by the regulatory agency.
Akindele explained that the energy park has refinery operations, gas processing facility, compressed natural gas facility, power plants, a data center, as well as a modular Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) that will come in place in the next 12 to 18 months.
“At the moment, we can process 60-million-scf of gas daily. This refinery is a 10,000 barrel per day refinery, starting with 2,500 barrels per day. The power plant capacity is over 50 megawatts and we are starting with five megawatts. We have a 32 racks data center that can go up to 100 racks.
“What we have not done is to introduce hydrocarbons into it. We are fully done, fully installed. However, the way it works is, you must get the regulator who will come to do the final work before we start full commercial production.
“We expect that to be completed by July 28 and then full commercial production will start. It is now no longer in progress or under construction, it is done. Regulatory agencies must give the right to start commercial operations.
“This park has a positive carbon footprint, that means it is not destructive to the environment. The gas being flared is converted to power for homes. The data center here has four power sources and more than two of them are power-friendly,” Akindele said.
He, therefore, commended the Federal Government for their support in the energy sector, particularly for ensuring the energy park comes to fruition.
“Without the NCDMB, this will not be possible. Not only did they invest in us, they held our hands through the process, supporting us, guiding us and letting us tap into their experiences.
“This government has been very supportive of the energy sector. Not only did they pass the PIA bill, they invested in local companies. Today in Nigeria, we have three refineries working in Nigeria, we have Watersmith, we have Niger Delta and this one is the third. Two of them are funded by the NCDMB. They have supported the capital and policies. On behalf of my management team, I want to say thank you to the government,” he added.
Mobolaji Kuku, chairman of the midstream board, in her remarks, said “This facility is the first of its kind. What we have here is a vision that is almost a reality. We have a refinery, a data center among others. We have different components on one site and it has never been done before.
