NASS summons Minister over collapse of refurbished refineries 6 months after
Following the alleged discovery that all four national refineries refurbished during the last quarter of 2016 are flat in production, the House Representatives on Monday rose in anger to invite Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to explain why.
However, comments made by the minister during his tour of Dangote refinery penultimate Monday did not show that the refineries are as down as claimed by the lawmakers as he only begged Dangote to deliver on schedule so as to complete the existing ones in ending product importation.
As at the last report from NNPC in July, the four refineries are said to be producing within 20 to 30 per cent of installed capacity.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Mr. Joseph Akinlaja, hinted about the invitation when members of the committee visited Matrix Energy Limited tank farm in Warri, Delta State, as part of inquiries into high prices and influx of adulterated kerosene leading to explosions in the country.
According to him, the House was deeply concerned about high cost of kerosene in the market as well as incessant explosion due to adulteration, said they were visiting major industry players in the country to ascertain how the situation could be resolved.
Akinlaja described as a national shame a scenario whereby Nigeria almost relies on imported petroleum products despite upgrading the four refineries six months ago.
