By: Felix Ikpotor
A professor of chemical engineering at the Rivers State University (RSU), Kenneth Kekpugile Dagde has called for the adoption of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model of public private partnership for the operationalisation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
He said adopting the model would enable government have control over the refinery while fully being operated by private individuals.
Dagde who stated this during his inaugural lecture at the university with the topic, “Milking the Cow: Harnessing Mathematical Modelling and Simulation for Sustainable Refinery Operation in Nigeria, ” also called for the full digitisation of the refinery operating system especially the hydro-cracking and hydro-treating units.
He said until that is done, the millions invested into the refurbishment of the refinery recently by the federal government and further investments would be a waste.
The petrochemical engineering expert questioned the rationale behind the government refurbishing the old refinery in Port Harcourt instead of the new one.
He also noted that the technology in the old refinery has become obsolete, and thereby affecting its operation.
“The new Port Harcourt Refinery commissioned in 1989 has the fluid catalytic cracking unit but what I have asked the government is, instead of repairing the new refinery, why should they go to the old refinery to repair? The old refinery does not have reforming units, does not have hydro-cracking units and that’s why all the monies spent there is of no effect until now; and till tomorrow there will not be any progress except they incorporate the hydro-treating units and reforming units, then the products from there can be acceptable.
“The technology there is also analogue. We recommend digital system in that old refinery. Also they should privatise and then percentage of it be owned by government so that immediate action can be taken when necessary. Additionally, the new refinery should not be outrightly sold. It should work like the NLNG arrangement. Government hand is in it but operated by private individuals and it is operating efficiently, ” Dagde stated.
The professor of simulation of chemical engineering processes further identified government interference, lack of feeds as part of the challenges bedevilling the smooth operation of refineries in the country.
He recommended private operatorship of the refineries to ensure immediate actions are taken when there is a fault.
He also recommended that refineries should own oil blocs to ensure constant feeds and guide against scarcity of raw materials for production which contribute in making the refineries breakdown due to inactivity.
“Some of the challenges of our refineries is government interference, lack of autonomy, poor maintenance culture, politicians recommended to do turnaround maintenance, and shortage of feed.
“Our crude oil is exported and then the refineries lack feed. And when equipment that was working no longer has feed making it redundant and equipments starts failing. So all refineries both government or private should own their oil bloc for feed to be constantly in for refining”, he added.
The lecturer also recommended that states where crude oil is explored should own a refinery so that they can benefit from what comes from their land.
Earlier in his address, Vice Chancellor of RSU, Professor Isaac Zep-Obipi who was represented at the event by Professor Blessing Jaja, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, said the public lecture series of the university is an important avenue to showcase the quality of academic work that takes place in the school and also contribute to shaping society.
“For us as a university, the inaugural lecture is a very, very important and solemn event. It is so because we consider it an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of scholarship that takes place within the four walls of the citadel of learning, and how that scholarship can contribute to making our society better.
“Secondly, we see it as an opportunity to enlighten the public, and by so doing contribute to a very important mission of our university, which is community service. And thirdly, for us, it is a rite of passage for a professor in this school, a rite of passage for him to mount the podium, share with us how he has influenced knowledge, how his research is impacting not only his sphere of expertise, but how that research is helping to make society better, ” he stated.
