With less than 24 months to commencement of operation, the management of Dangote Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals has said it is partnering with the Petroleum Training Institute, (PTI) Efunrun in the area of human capital development and professional certification given the group’s foray into oil and gas business.
One of Dangote’s latest laudable projects is the construction of a $14 billion refinery which is projected to refine about 650,000 barrels of crude oil a day and also has the capacity to turn the 650,000 barrels of oil into gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel enough to potentially satisfy all the country’s daily needs.
When completed, it could end Nigeria’s reliance on imported gasoline and diesel.
The group executive director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communication of Dangote Group Engr. Mansur Ahmed recently said the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals would be more than ready to partner the PTI in the critical area of skill acquisition and human capital development.
He stated that the PTI is in vantage position to provide trainings that are otherwise sought abroad and that with the economic situation in the country, PTI should be the leading light in training of personnel in oil and gas sector.
Ahmed then advised the Institute Management to build a framework that will show the contents of its training modules and how they match specific needs of organizations in the sector.
He tasked the Institute to come with a proposal that can lead to the formalisation of the partnership between the Group and the Institute while also urging them to take facility tour of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals currently under construction so as have insight into the areas of immediate training the company would require.
While, the Principal of the Institute, Professor Sunny Iyuke expressed delight that the Institute management has been able to link up with the Group eventually saying he was optimistic that the partnership would be beneficial to both parties.
He explained efforts being made by the new management of the institute headed by him to redirect the institute saying it has undergone several changes in the last few months all in efforts to reposition it to be relevant in discharge of its duties in the light of the modern day technology.
Iyuke made bold to say that the PTI has some of the best facilities for training in the oil and gas sector in the world and that the management was striving to ensure the facilities are deployed appropriately so that the institute would take its pride of place in the sector.
He also expressed the confidence that the facilities at PTI would be of immense benefit to Dangote refinery given its unique size and scope of production and that the training and certification that the Institute would provide would be global standard.
Stressing the reason why the current management moved to reposition the Institute, Iyuke lamented that it was embarrassing that over five decades after the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the country is still importing oil.
Describing the situation as saddening unacceptable, he explained that PTI would need to double up and take the lead in human capital development in the oil and gas industry noting that with the local content policy of the government, the Institute has much work to do.
The institute listed areas of training where Dangote Refinery could benefit from as refining process, process control, plant utilities, pipeline maintenance, catalyst and catalysis, corrosion and corrosion control, water and waste water management, power plant and a host of other spheres.
Mansur recently stated that the refinery’s daily production capacity would be 150 per cent of the current total demand of petroleum products in the country, saying that the excess would be exported to other countries.
He said a 1.3 million metric tonnes per annum petrochemical plant was also under construction at the refinery site in Lekki area of Lagos, saying “In addition, he said that a fertiliser company with capacity to produce 2.8 million metric tonnes of assorted fertilisers was also being added to help the country to achieve food security.”
Mansur disclosed that the company had also diversified into gas business as it had started constructing a gas pipeline from the South East to Lagos.
He said that the gas plant, when completed, would have the capacity to produce three million standard cubic metres of gas per annum.
The executive director said the project would help the country to record appreciable improvement in power and manufacturing sectors.
According to him, the company’s huge investment in the oil and gas sector will impact positively in the economy, especially in the areas of employment and preservation of foreign exchange.
The petroleum industry in Nigeria is the largest on the African continent. As of 2015, Nigeria’s petroleum industry contributes about 14 per cent to its economy.
In October, 2016, President Muhummadu Buhari unveiled Seven Big Wins, as part of short to medium term strategy framework with robust priorities to grow Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The seven big wins to revamp and revive the sector will focus on key areas including Niger Delta development and security of the oil producing region; policy and regulation; business environment and investment drive; transparency and efficiency; stakeholder management and international coordination; gas revolution, refineries and local oil production capacity.
The president noted that the oil and gas sector was still a critical revenue point for the country despite the drastic dip in global crude oil prices at the international market.
“As important as it is to ensure that Agriculture, Solid minerals and other critical sectors of the economy are supported to grow and contribute more to the nation’s economy, we still need a virile and efficient oil and gas industry to take care of our foreign exchange requirements,” he said.
