Cross Udo, Abuja

Stakeholders in the oil and gas have stressed the need for a review of the Petroleum Refining Regulations of 1974 and other relevant laws to accommodate the establishment of artisanal refineries.

The stakeholders also harped on the need for the Federal Government to consider and approve the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the National Summit on the Integration of Artisanal/Modular Refinery Operations into the In-Country Oil Refining Programme of the Oil and Gas Sector.

These were part of the resolutions reached at the end of the emergency stakeholders meeting convened by the Office of the presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang in Abuja.

The emergency meeting was called to address the soot and other environmental pollution caused by artisanal refining activities in Rivers State and other Niger Delta States.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting read in part:

“That there is the need for the Federal Government to consider and approve the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the National Summit on the Integration of Artisanal/Modular Refinery Operations into the In-Country Oil Refining Programme of the Oil and Gas Sector held at Sheraton Hotels and Towers Abuja, on 16th and 17th March 2021 to address the issues of environmental pollution amongst others.

“That there is the need for various organizations that have the crude oil refining technology to interact with Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulation Authority (NMDPRA) for them to make presentations on their available technologies, for regulations within the law.

“That the team should further engage with the bodies of artisanal refining representatives for the purpose of reviewing the current situation and proffer solution to the environmental and economic challenge, amongst others.

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“That engagement be made with the Governors and Governments of impacted states as well as other sub-national structures for a further solution to the challenges, to curb re-pollution by the models adopted by the sub-nationals.

“That there is the need for the review of the Petroleum Refining Regulations of 1974 and other relevant laws to accommodate the establishment of artisanal refineries.