Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has restated his administration’s commitment to the timely delivery of the proposed 10,000 barrels-per-day modular refinery project at the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP), Owaza.
The project, being executed by HSI Energies Group, is expected to generate about 1,000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect employment opportunities for Abians.
Governor Otti gave the assurance when he received the Group Chief Executive Officer of HSI Energies, Mr. Ugwumba Chikezie Nwosu, and his management team at Government House, Umuahia. He said his government was determined to create a conducive environment for investments and industrial growth.
“The Abia Industrial and Innovation Park sits on about 2,000 hectares of land and has capacity to accommodate multiple industries, including petrochemical plants, fertiliser companies, logistics, energy and housing,” Otti said. “We are pleased with the progress so far and appreciate your decision to site this refinery in Abia. It will significantly boost our economy.”
Earlier, Mr. Nwosu briefed the Governor on the company’s preparations ahead of construction, noting that the project is at an advanced stage, with equity sourcing and debt financing ongoing.
He explained that the refinery, licensed for 10,000 barrels per day, would be developed in phases with plans to expand to 30,000 barrels per day. According to him, the socio-economic benefits will be far-reaching, including training opportunities for Abians, improved access to petroleum products, increased internally generated revenue, and foreign direct investment.
“For each 10,000 barrels per day, about 1,000 direct jobs will be created, with a projected $68 million annual tax contribution. At 30,000 barrels, this could translate to 3,000
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