Waltersmith Modular Refinery in Ohaji/Egbema has expanded its refining capacity to 10,000 Barrels Per Day (BPD), up from 5,000bpd, and has invited regulatory bodies in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to inspect it.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were invited to conduct a joint cross-examination of the expanded refinery and, where necessary, make recommendations.
The NCDMB doubles as a regulator and an investor. It invested in the refinery’s equity and helped catalyse the investment. It also led to the commissioning of the plant’s first phase in November 2020.
The content development board was also involved in Waltersmith’s expansion project, foreseeing its completion. The refinery now produces AGO (diesel), Household kerosine (HHK), HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil) and Naphtha.
According to the NCDMB, the refinery has supplied over 1.1 billion barrels of refined products to both local and regional markets. Thus, the refinery is actively contributing its quota to the expansion of Nigeria’s energy sector.
Waltersmith’s Expansion Project Crosschecked by Industry Regulators
Speaking at the inspection of the facility, the NCDMB Executive Secretary, represented by the Director of Legal Services, Dr Naboth Onyesoh, described Waltersmith Modular Refinery as a model in local content implementation, especially in direct and indirect job creation, import substitution and value addition to crude oil and gas resources. He expressed delight at the refinery’s success.
Waltersmith Petroman Chairman, Mr Abdulrazak Isa, reacted to the event. He explained that the regulators’ visit was organised to showcase the refinery’s new milestone to NMDPRA’s New leadership and its partner, NCDMB.
He revealed that the refinery’s new target is to construct a 30,000-barrels-per-day condensate refinery and an industry park. This will accommodate other gas-based firms. Industrial analysts revealed that this proposed 30,000 bpd condensate refinery is leveraging condensate from ANOH 1. A few months ago, ANOH completed massive condensate storage facilities by ADANO EPC.
The leveraging of ANOH industrial complex products by Waltersmith represents a much-needed industrial integration. This can establish advanced economic clusters in the state.
Both Waltersmith Petroman Modular Refinery in Ohaji/Egbema and the Anoh Gas Development Company are among the seven major oil and gas refineries contributing to the growth of Imo State’s oil and gas sector.
