The Nigerian Society of Engineers in Bayelsa State has endorsed the nearly completed Azikel Refinery in Yenagoa, describing it as a major industrial project capable of accelerating economic growth in the state.
Members of the professional body gave the assessment during a tour of the refinery complex.
Branch Chairman Mac Jokori said the facility met high engineering standards and represented an important milestone for Nigeria’s refining industry.
He said the refinery was designed to process both condensate and crude oil and would support industrialization, technology transfer, local skills development and employment.
According to the company, more than 700 engineers and other workers are currently engaged in the completion phase.
Jokori pledged the society’s support through technical collaboration, internships, mentorship, research partnerships and capacity-building programs.
President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, attributed the extended construction period to major engineering upgrades and the complexity of developing a full hydro-skimming refinery rather than a simpler topping plant.
He said the project, first licensed in 2015, underwent extensive redesign that increased its capacity to 25,000 barrels per day and raised total investment to about $1 billion.
The refinery is expected to produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas, with a future expansion target of 125,000 barrels per day.
Eruani said the project was conceived to position Bayelsa as an industrial hub, create jobs and stimulate economic activity across the Niger Delta.
He explained that hydro-skimming refineries were more complex than topping plants because they could process crude oil or condensate into a broader range of refined products.
According to him, Azikel Refinery is one of Nigeria’s largest full-slate refineries and is designed to process condensate into multiple petroleum products.
