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The Abia State Government has stated that 10,000 barrels per day capacity Modular Refinery has progressed at an advanced stage as the construction of refinery in the Abia Industrial and Innovative Park will commence fully this second quarter of the year.
Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information, stated this at the Government House, Umuahiia while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor, Alex Otti.
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“The State Government is making steady progress on the AIIP project and to this effect the payment of compensation to all affected landowners has been completed.
“Bush clearing and earth works around the project site have commenced, especially around the modular refinery site.
Construction for the modular refinery will commence fully during the second quarter of the year and that’s, as we enter the month of May.
“This of course is as a result of the approval granted to HSI- by the Federal Government to build and operate the 10,000 barrels per day capacity modular refinery at that AIIP site” Kanu stated.
Kanu said that in a bid to ensure steady supply of petroleum products in the State and particularly with Osisioma depot being operational, the State Government had engaged the NNPC Port Harcourt Refinery and NNPC Retails Management to ensure that Abia State get sufficient and regular allocation of petroleum products.
The Commissioner also noted that the State Government through the State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources recently commissioned a statewide study on solid minerals across the State with a view to determining the quantities and commercial viability of the mineral deposits that dot the landscape of the State.
The Commissioner listed the minerals to include, among others, limestone, kaolin, lignite, granite, lead, zinc. “By the time the results of the study come in fully, the State Government will be in a position to determine what or which among the mineral resources to actually go for and apparently allow interested investors to come in and mine”.
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He further stated that the State would be participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, holding in Bonn Germany between the 16th and 26th of June 2025.
