FG Curbing Unemployment, Vandalism With Modular Refineries – Sylva

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said that with the completed and ongoing modular refineries, the federal government is set to tackle unemployment and incessant pipeline vandalism.

Sylva spoke during the ground-breaking of an energy infrastructure park being developed by Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) at Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

A statement by the NCDMB in Abuja noted that the minister also inaugurated three corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects executed by the company.

The projects included the Okpoama Cottage Hospital, Iseleama Health Centre and Okpoama Community Water Works. Sylva added that one of the best strategies to curb restiveness in the Niger Delta region is to create jobs and opportunities for youths.

He listed part of his mandate to include collaborating with players in the private sector to establish oil and gas facilities, including modular refineries, which will ensure value addition to the crude oil, products sufficiency, create jobs in-country and curb pipeline vandalism.

He charged the people of Okpoama and other parts of the Niger Delta to create an investment-friendly environment that will attract other oil and gas and manufacturing facilities to the region.

Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, listed the various elements of the energy park project to include 2,000 barrels per day modular refinery, a power plant and a jetty.

He added that the project will serve as a catalyst for infrastructural development and economic activities in Bayelsa State.