Nigerian Government to import crude oil from Niger Republic

Against the challenges in moving crude oil from South-South Nigeria to Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), the Presidency has turned to Niger Republic for supply of the commodities to bring KRPC into full operation.

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, weekend disclosed ongoing plans by the Federal Government to construct about 1,000 kilometer crude oil pipelines from Niger Republic to Kaduna Refinery.

Baru made this known during a town hall meeting with management and staff of KRPC in Kaduna. According to him, “Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery has been epileptic. This, we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods, including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipelines of over 1,000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna. That effort is being championed by Mr. President himself.”

He said: “It was important to explore alternative crude supply to KRPC, which has been affected by vandalism of pipelines and obsolescence, assuring that the initiative will reduce downtime of the plant and ensure optimal utilisation.”

“The Corporation has already started engagements with the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem (The Agadem Block is located in the East Niger Rift Basin). Baru, pledges to drive the energy supply project to power industries in Kaduna by ensuring the completion of the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.