In Nigeria, Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd has announced that it plans to finalize the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for its 20,000 bpd modular refinery in the next few weeks.

According to the Group Managing Director of Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd, Anthony Iheanacho, the refinery is a model to be embark on by any private marketer of petroleum products in Nigeria. He said once the EIA has been finalized and all the necessary approvals acquired, the company will commence the construction of the refinery, which will at first produce diesel, export quality Naphtha, kerosene, fuel oil and aviation fuel.

He stated that the company had drawn up the front end engineering design (FEED) and presented it to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

“I was talking with our consultant today and he said that the EIA process will be through in about 10 weeks. If you look very well, the only thing you can see is the fence we did not prevent encroachment; it is a demarcation fence and nothing else has been done expect the fence. We are still in the process of EIA. We have concluded the dry season data collection. After the wet season data collection, we will start work. EIA is the basic thing you must do in a project of this nature before you start work,” he said.

Iheanacho however, rebuffed reports that work was going on at the refinery. He added that the company must obey all regulations before starting the construction of the plant, Today news reports.

Anita Fatunji