By John Odhe, YENAGOA
The multi-billion-naira Erasko Energy Limited lubricant and chemicals blending plant located within the 45-hectare Eraskon Industrial City at Gbarain Clan in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State is being washed away by erosion.
Among other things, the facility has provision for a 128,000-litre per day lubricant/chemicals blending plant envisioned to produce various grades of engine oils, hydraulic oils, break fluids, radiator coolants, fuel injection cleaners, gear oils, industrial lubricants, marine and synthetic lubricants.
Chairman of the group, Mr. Maxwell Oko, said on Monday at the erosion ravaged complex, that the project was conceived to deepen Nigeria’s industrial capacity, promote local content development, reduce dependence on imported lubricants and packaging materials and create substantial employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Oko, while conducting the member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Oboku Oforji round the facility, said the project was expected to create about 200 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect job opportunities when completed.
He lamented that the erosion-threatened city which had reached 90 per cent completion, was to be commissioned in 2022, but was stalled by the erosion crisis, dashing the hopes of potential employees and causing the company untold pains.
The Erasko chairman recounted that a factory building which was over 85 per cent completed was washed away the erosion, before the company managed to dismantle and recover some of the building materials.
The twin 2 million litres storage tanks already erected and about 90 per cent completed, he lamented, was also threatened, while the third one million litres storage capacity tank, whose foundation had been completed, had to be suspended.
He noted that the company had incurred a loss of over N500 billion projected earning, as the envisaged production commencement date was no longer feasible, owing to the erosion havoc.
Hear him: “As you can see, we have about 30 containers of our process equipment that we couldn’t install due to the erosion crisis that took out our steel sheet piles.
“The building that was already at 85 per cent completion stage, half roofed, was taken out; all the building piles taken out. We have to deroof the building and dismantle the entire steel structure.
“We have commissioned an erosion control study as a result of what has happened. We hired the services of a renowned engineer and professor of hydraulics and water resources, Prof. Itolima Ologhadien.
“He lectures at the Rivers State University. His early career on this job is working with the Dutch people during the Okilo’s government and he has done a lot of works from Asamabiri to Sagbama and other places.
“The erosion studies is out. It’s a one-year studies, and it came out at a time that our 5 million-litre storage tanks were badly exposed. Two of the tanks are about 90 per cent done and they are two million litres each, remaining the one million-litre tank to be erected but we had to stop because of this.
“We are currently doing a safeguard measure as a result of the studies to protect the tanks from collapse. But the real challenge is the erosion remediation that we need to start in December.
“We are happy that the honourable member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency in the house of representatives, is here. Also, the honourable member representing Yenagoa constituency 3 and community leaders are here.
“This is a project that was supposed to be commissioned with about 200 direct employment and about 1,000 indirect employments.
“They are all here and we are happy that they are concerned. We are here to take them through for them to see what we are passing through.”
He pleaded with the federal and state governments, and its agencies, to intervene to salvage the dangerous situation.
