Mini refineries will be legalised, supplied with crude oil – FG

Nigeria will reportedly legalise currently outlawed mini refineries in the Niger Delta oil hub by the end of 2017, and supply them with crude at a reasonable price.

The presidency said this on Thursday, fulfilling demands from Niger Delta leaders.

“The Federal Government has started the process of replacing illegal refineries in the region with modular ones,” the presidency said in a statement as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo met Niger Delta community leaders in Abuja.

Each of the Niger Delta states would receive two modular refineries to start up in the fourth quarter, the statement said.

The community leaders welcomed the outcome of the meeting.

“The meeting was excellent. We met with Mr Acting President and the discussion was very honest, truthful, forthright. We are very, very satisfied. No more ultimatum,” Edwin Clark, head of the community leaders, told newsmen.

The presidency said it was also discussing with oil majors to move their regional headquarters to the Niger Delta, another demand from communities complaining they do not benefit from the crude in their region.

“There is more consensus,” Oil Minister Ibe Kachikwu said after the meeting.

“Today was an environment of peace, calm, friendliness, and mutual dialogue of issues.”

Oil exports are now set to exceed 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, the highest in 17 months, from as little as just over 1 million bpd at certain points last year, thanks to a steady decline in attacks on pipelines.

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