NSChE labels illegal refinery operators suicide patients

The Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSChE has described operators of illegal refineries along the coastline of the Niger Delta and elsewhere in the country where oil pipelines are located as attempting to kill themselves because of the hazards involved in the unconventional processing of crude.

President of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers NSChE Prof. Eminike N. Wami made the assertion during a press briefing on the occasion of the 45^th Annual Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Society held at the Bestwestern plus Wetland Hotel, Mofor, DSC, Udu council area of Delta State.

With the theme of this years’ conference: “Optimization of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Resources in Lean Times”, Engr. Wami said operators of illegal refineries lack the technological expertise to properly process their stolen crude to acceptable standards and quality, saying that whatever comes out from the process only serve to cause further damage to our automobiles, environment and endanger their lives and that of innocent Nigerians around the communities.

He said oil thieves are saboteurs of the Nigerian economy for self gains as they end up wasting the by-products of processed crude if it were processed by a regular refinery to ensure standardization of quality and best practices handled by qualified hands, explaining that Chemical Engineers are process specialists responsible for the design of process plants and operations of such process plants in various Chemical Industries.

While calling for severe sanctions against crude oil thieves in the country, he advocated the appointment of Chemical Engineers to strategic positions to help stabilize the administration of Oil and Gas sectors instead of appointing professional politicians without any industry knowledge to head such important segment of our economy.

Prof. Wami stated that the wisdom underlying this years’ theme can be seen from the current global fall in oil prices and its toll on the revenue accruing to the Federal government, saying that what should agitate any discerning mind should be what options to pursue to chart a way forward for the country outside oil.

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