By Musa Adamu
Abuja
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said with the recommissioning of the Escravos-Warri-Kaduna pipeline, Warri and Kaduna refineries had started receiving crude oil once again simultaneously for the first time in many years.
According to a statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad, Dr. Kachikwu said Warri has started working while Kaduna would start production at the end of the month.
He explained that what it meant was that for the first time in many years all the three refineries and major crude pipelines would be working at the same time.
Dr. Kachikwu stated that Escravos terminal was the heart beat of the downstream sector of the industry and critical to local supply of finished petroleum product as both refineries in Warri and Kaduna were majorly fed from Escravos crude stock.
He said:“The challenge of this country is the challenge of focus and stewardship. For the first time in many years the three refineries are going to be working and it will help in a great deal with the issue of fuel supply and distribution across the country and it will go a long way to manage the fuel crisis.”
He enjoined Nigerians to be more patient as the Corporation was working hard to end fuel shortage across the country.
“I appreciate the patients of Nigerians and I am committed and focused to make petroleum available to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.”
