The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu while delivering his address at the commissioning of Petrolex Mega Oil City hailed Mr. Segun Adebutu and the Petrolex team for their creative ability to bring this project to reality.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to infrastructural development and also hailed the vice president for his zeal and passion towards ensuring peace in the Niger-Delta.
Kachiukwu who describe the oil facility as
“perfect distribution center, a maritime grid, processing hub and a testimonial pipeline facility all locked up in one project.”
While stressing that tomorrow beckons very sharply he urged Petrolex to work assiduously to meet the 2019 target and other refining facilities in the country to achieve government target of 80% locally refining petroleum products come 2019 and thus become the distribution hub on the continent. Describing the target as “non-negotiable” Kachikwu called on all stakeholders in the sector to work collaboratively to achieve this target.
The minister promised his ministry’s support to perfect the dream describing the dream as a worthwhile dream, impressive dream and collective dream.
He also pledged the support of his ministry to investors willing to invest in the downstream sector. Kachikwu also stressed the need to encourage local content initiative in the sector and improve on the local capacity in the country.
He ended the speech going poetic
I have seen, I have felt of course with eyeball contact.
The bosom of steel tanks all gathered here a monstrous seeking to conquer.
The pipelines like snakes meander at night and at daytime.
The fountain of liquids which shun music they begets.
But I am sure when next we visit, the brotherhood of furnace and chariots of chimney we shall see.
Man calleth it refinery we call it Engineering .
Petrolex time is of essence get going and congratulations.
