Otti Expresses Commitment to Timely Delivery of Abia Modular Refinery

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed his commitment to the timely realisation of the proposed 10,000 barrel per day modular refinery project in the State.

Otti gave the assurance while receiving the Ugwumba Chikezie Nwosu
Group Chief Executive Officer of the company handling the refinery project and his management team who came to update him on the preparedness of the company’s to commence work at the site.

He noted that the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park sitting on about 2000 hectares of land is capable of accommodating many industrial companies.

The Governor added the vast area in the AIIP Owaza is designated for a gas-powered industrial ecosystem, including energy, logistics, housing, modular refinery, petrochemical plants, fertiliser companies and clean infrastructure.

He appreciated the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company for his wise decision to locate the modular refinery in the State having concluded preliminary works on the site, and noted that it would contribute to the growth of the economy of Abia State.

In his presentation earlier, the Group CEO, HSI Energies, Mr. Ugwumba Chikezie Nwosu, said the project had reached an advanced stage while equity sourcing, debt financing among others are in progress.

Nwosu said that the refinery would be developed in phases, and is expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities, boost the State’s Internally Generated Revenue and attract foreign direct investment.

He highlighted the socioeconomic impact of the refinery, including training opportunities for Abians in the refining, oil and gas business as well local access to petroleum products.

He further informed that the licence of the refinery is for 10,000 barrels of oil per day, which could create about 1,000 direct jobs for Abians, adding that it intends to get to 30,000 barrels per day.

“The only thing stopping us from going to 30,000 immediately is that we have to source the crude oil that we will refine. So, by the time we get to 30,000, that means 3,000 direct jobs and many indirect jobs,” Nwosu said.

He appreciated the Governor for the construction of the access road leading to the refinery and assured that construction would commence in the first quarter of 2026.