18 September 2013, Abeokuta – Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has disclosed that refinery and petrochemical projects will be set up soon in the state.
Amosun also disclosed that other investors, including Jim Ovia, are planning to build fertilizer and amonia plants, explaining that by October, the refinery and petrochemical projects would commence in earnests.
Amosun spoke with journalists Tuesday in Abeokuta while hosting the Ogun Elders’ Consultative Forum.
The governor said Chevron and Shell Petroleum pulled out of the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) Project under the Olokola Free Trade Zone due to the expertise and investment Dangote Group was bringing into the project.
He, however, said the massive investment and expertise which the indigenous investors, such as Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia and others, are planning for Olokola FTZ sent the foreign investors away.
“Maybe you don’t understand this, not only Chevron, there are about four to five parties and because they realised that nothing was happening then and now, they realised that some of the people that are there have actually been bought over, that I can confirm to you.
“And what will Chevron be doing there when of course, there are other big players as well, the gentleman that is building the refinery is not a novice; he will get the best in the world to come and build it and it’s like what he is doing is a direct competition with Chevron.
“Look at the quantum of money being invested there; it is even far more than, probably more than 10 times what Chevron wanted to invest there.
“Let me even be modest and say that almost 90 per cent of what is being done now in Olokola falls directly within Ogun State. If you look at the bigger picture, it is between Ogun and the states, but not that probably we will still not go and may be do phase two with Ondo State.
“But as we speak today, the deep seaport, the fertilizer and amonia, everything that Dangote wants to do is in Ogun State and I’m sure that by October, we should be there and the refinery will commence.
Dangote is partnering with us, but it is not Dangote alone, I am aware that Mr. Jim Ovia is bringing in amonia to the site, some people are building; it is a whole lot of things that are coming,” Amosun added.
– This Day
