The Federal Government says plans have been concluded to host a national conference on the integration of artisanal/modular petroleum refinery operations.
This was disclosed by Ita Enang, the senior special assistant to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, during a press conference on Tuesday, March 9, in Abuja.
According to Enang the aim of the conference is to seek ways to increase refining capacity and cause a drop in the price of petroleum products.
“As the cost of crude goes higher, the cost of refined petroleum products goes higher but if we refine these petroleum products in Nigeria, the cost will be very low,” he explained.
“And, the intendment of the conference is to mobilise these resources so that we can bring the prices of refined petroleum products down to below N100 per litre.”
Enang further said that the conference would help to protect the environment.
He explained that the conference was not to legitimise illegal mining operations but integrate the operators into the legitimate refining process.
According to him, this will stop all illegalities and create more employment for Nigerians.
He also said that the conference needs to be held urgently because “most of the issues that will be addressed at the conference are such issues that will require legislation, so any agreement that will be reached which requires legislature will be accommodated in the PIB”.
