Nigeria’s Azikiel Refinery to Begin Operations in 2025

Azikiel Petroleum Refinery, Nigeria’s second biggest private-owned oil refinery with an installed capacity of 12,000 barrels per day (bpd) has exceeded 87 percent completion, the Azikel Group has confirmed.

Located in Gbarain, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, promoters of the hydro skimming refinery anticipate mechanical completion in 2024 and commercial production operations by 2025.

The company also plans a phase two with a 25,000-barrels per day capacity. It would commence immediately upon the commercial operation of the phase one.

The refinery would produce two million litres of premium petroleum products of EURO V grade per annum when it comes full on stream. It intends to refine petrol, diesel, aviation fuel among others, and hopes to be able to determine the costs and quality of petrol in Nigeria.

The project is being handled by United States-based Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, McDermott, which manufactured the Inside Battery Limits (ISBL) Process Modules of the refinery in US.

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President of Azikel Refinery, Dr Eruani Azibapu, revealed that 90 per cent of the Process Modules of the ISBL of the facility had been shipped into the country, while the Outside Battery Limits(OSBL) and Balance of Plant (BOP) are already completed and installed.

“Today, Azikiel Refinery has progressed exceedingly. We are now at 87 per cent completion in the overall.

“We are anticipating achieving mechanical completion by the end of this year. And of course, commercial production is going to be by next year when we will be receiving crude oil and then fire on.

“The Refinery is being manufactured by Mc Demott in the US. 90 per cent of the Process Modules of the ISBL has been shipped,” Azibapu said.

Azikiel Group is a conglomerate of major subsidiaries involved in dredging, power generation, aviation and a mini refinery in the US and the Niger Delta-based hydro-skimming refinery.

He explains that accessing foreign exchange had posed a major challenge in executing the project, noting that there were not many options other than achieving completion to commence production at the refinery.

He hopes the company will create over 80,000 indirect employment and over 700 direct employment.