The Azikel Group and Ventech Engineering LLC Houston-Texas, United States, have signed a contract for the construction of the Azikel Refinery, with capacity to process 12,000 barrels per stream per day. The refinery is expected to start operations by 2018.

The President, Azikel Group, Dr. Eruani Azibapu, represented Azikel Petroleum Nigeria Limited at the contract signing; while the Director of Investment and Strategy, Mr. Richard Howarth, and the Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Presley Asemota, stood in for Ventech Engineering.

The 12,000bpsd hydro-skyming refinery, according to a statement by the Azike Group, is one of the 22 private refineries licensed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 with the aim of adding value to the Nigerian crude oil, driving self-sufficiency in refined products and employment generation.

Azikel Refinery is situated adjacent the Gbarain-Ubi gas gathering facility in Obunagha-Gbarain, Bayelsa State, and its proximity to the feed stock from Shell. the statement added, had given it a clear advantage for early start and completion to meet the 2018 target date.

At the contract signing ceremony in Houston, the President of Ventech Engineering, Ian Anderson, was quoted to have said that the firm’s high degree of professionalism would be deployed in the construction of the Azikel Refinery.