How Eruani’s $850m Azikel Refinery Is Changing Status Of Bayelsa-Diri

With an $850m investment in the Azikel Refinery, the first and only major privately owned modular refinery East of the Niger, the status of Bayelsa State as a civil service state is changing and this is a source of joy for the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri.

Both the governor and the president of the Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani, a son of the state, are excited that the refinery which is nearing completion, will generate employment for the people of Bayelsa and also introduce the state into the comity of industrialised states of the country.

Already, about 400 foreigners and Nigerians are working at the refinery construction site located at Obunagha in the Yenagoa Local Government of the state.

The governor said “Dr. Eruani has established a modular refinery here in Bayelsa State and not in any other state. Let me on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State congratulate you and thank you for this bold step to make our dreams come to pass.

“This is what our state’s founding fathers and all of us have been talking about. We cannot have crude oil and gas on our soil and not have electricity or industry in the state. You have broken the jinx and I am sure the younger generation will follow your footsteps.

 “Development is not done by the government alone. It is done in partnership with the private sector. That is why we are very glad that you are partnering the state government in developing Bayelsa State. Like you rightly said, this will bring job opportunities here and taxes will be paid to the state government.

“I have often said that you do not need to lay pipes too far away from where you have the raw materials. Elementary economics taught us about nearness to source of raw materials. This is the knowledge and benefit in siting the refinery just a stone’s throw from the crude.

“Eruani knows where the problem was because he is from Bayelsa. He understands that by siting his industry close to where the raw material is, it is going to be cost-effective and will not face a lot of challenges.

“Now if they call businessmen in Nigeria, I will say I also have Dr Eruani in my state. I invite our businessmen from Bayelsa that are doing well outside the state to also come home to affect lives, create jobs and join hands with the government to develop the state”

Earlier, Eruani had said that one of the reasons he established the refinery was to add value to the Nigerian crude oil, create employment and to industrialise the state, adding that the refinery was unique, as it was the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa to refine condensate apart from petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, saying it has equally placed Bayelsa among the critical states that would contribute to the industrial base for petroleum sufficiency in the country. He assured that the state would not have product scarcity when the refinery commences operation.