Nigeria's oil and gas sector received a significant boost as Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), conducted an inspection tour of a major modular refinery project in Delta State.
Major Step Toward Energy Independence
The minister visited the construction site of a 30,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery being developed by indigenous energy firm Ebenco Global Link Limited in Koko, Delta State. Lokpobiri described the project as a clear demonstration of renewed investor confidence in Nigeria's petroleum industry.
According to the minister, this development perfectly aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda and the Federal Government's ongoing petroleum sector reforms. He emphasized that the refinery will significantly strengthen Nigeria's energy resilience while addressing critical challenges in the oil and gas value chain.
Practical Solution to Industry Challenges
Lokpobiri highlighted that the modular refinery represents a practical approach to reducing Nigeria's supply deficits and combating illegal activities in the sector. "Modular refining provides a practical pathway to bridging Nigeria's supply gaps while advancing economic development," the minister stated during his inspection.
He explained that the Tinubu administration is deliberately restructuring the petroleum sector to attract private capital and accelerate crucial midstream and downstream investments. The minister stressed that when built with strong governance frameworks and local fabrication capacity, modular refineries offer substantial economic benefits.
Phased Development and Local Impact
Dr. Ebenezer Oluwagbemiga, Chief Executive Officer of Ebenco, revealed that the refinery will commence operations in phases. The initial phase will feature a 5,000-barrel-per-day steam-processing unit, with capacity gradually expanding to the full 30,000 barrels daily.
Beyond petroleum refining, the project is designed to stimulate job creation, deepen local content participation, and reduce incentives driving illegal bunkering activities. "We are taking this stage by stage. Beyond refining petroleum products, the project is expected to catalyze jobs, deepen local content and materially reduce the incentives that drive illegal bunkering," Dr. Oluwagbemiga explained.
Engineering Innovation and National Priorities
Dr. Peter Akindeju, Ebenco's Management Consultant, described the refinery's modular, batch-based configuration as a major advancement in indigenous engineering and commercialization. He noted that this approach has the potential to shorten delivery cycles, improve operational flexibility, and demonstrate Nigerian capability in building complex infrastructure.
Akindeju praised the company's leadership for maintaining project momentum and urged the Federal Government to grant the project pioneer status, given its alignment with national priorities on refining capacity, job creation, and energy security.
The project also received academic endorsement from Dr. Omonigho Otanocha, an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE). He commended the refinery as a landmark contribution to Nigeria's industrial self-reliance and thanked President Tinubu for providing policy support that enables innovation in modular refining.
The inspection, conducted on November 26, 2025, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria's journey toward energy self-sufficiency and demonstrates growing indigenous capacity in developing critical midstream and downstream infrastructure.
