Kachikwu, NNPC boss






THE Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, yesterday in Warri assured “tireless efforts” are being made to ensure that all the refineries is working efficiently as there is so much expectation from Nigerians.

He equally disclosed that the NNPC was planning to introduce a new pipeline tracking system and command posts to monitor the feed pipeline that supplies Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) crude oil, when fixed. This way, he believes the pipeline would be better protected, as the tracking system would enhance quick response time.

Kachikwu, who visited the Warri Refinery on a ‘fact-finding tour’, refuted reports that the refinery was shut because there was no crude to refine, instead he blamed the sudden shut down on the failure of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCC), which he said is “where the bread and butter” is.
The NNPC boss said: “For over 10 to 15 years no serious maintenance was done in the refinery so you need a timeline to get these things working again. We are beginning a very hardworking focus on these refineries to make them work properly.

“Funding and contracting time need to improve because the country needs them to be up and running,” Kachikwu said.

He said the refinery would be back and running by the first week of November saying he had directed the WRPC management to “do what needs to be done to get the refinery back as quickly as possible.”

The NNPC chief said there would be no shortage of petroleum products at the filling stations while the refinery is being fixed.

He disclosed that the NNPC was doing everything necessary to ensure that the Warri-Escravos pipeline that supplies crude oil to WRPC is fixed saying it is faster to supply feedstock through pipeline than through vessel.

Hammering on intensifying surveillance of the pipeline system, the NNPC Group Managing Director said helicopters would be procured to ensure the pipelines are serving its purpose.

He regretted that the pipelines, which were laid 20 to 30 years, had been allowed to degenerate without proper maintenance, “If security, monitoring, and maintenance is tight we should have the pipeline back,” Kachikwu assured.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/09/nnpc-to-introduce-new-pipeline-tracking-system/