Reps seek legal framework for artisanal petrol refiners
The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to study and articulate a regulatory legal framework to integrate artisanal refiners into the formal crude oil production value chain.
The call was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. George Ozodinobi (LP-Anambra) at plenary on Thursday.
Moving the motion, Ozodinobi said it was incumbent to abide by the constitutional dictate to harness the resources of the nation and to promote national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic, and self-reliant economy.
He said that lives and revenues have been lost due to the government's inability to recognize, regulate, and control artisanal refining of petroleum products, which was prevalent in the Niger Delta region for decades.
The rep recalled that in 2016, the Federal Government proposed the integration of artisanal refiners into mainstream operations in the oil and gas sector to promote the inclusion of more local content in the industry.
According to him, the initiative was to advance the use of home-grown technology in the refining of petroleum products in the region.
“Worried that after seven decades of massive devastation and environmental degradation of the Niger Delta with its ecosystem, policymakers are still oblivious to the crucial need to encourage artisanal refining and lay a foundation for the local technology that will salvage us from energy poverty.
“The policy has left Nigeria with four moribund refineries for decades, a globally rated exporter of crude oil and chronic importer of finished petroleum products with a litany of woes as confirmed by the ongoing fuel crisis and validated by the alleged conspiracy against the Dangote refinery.
“The historic reference of industrialisation and technological growth affirms the support and protection of indigenous technology as exemplified by Japan, China, and other Asian economies and even the United States,” he said.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, mandated the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream, and Midstream) and Local Content to ensure compliance and report within four weeks for further legislative actions.
