The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, has said the modular refinery at the Abia Industrial Innovation Park will come on stream by 2025.

Mr Kanu made this known on Tuesday during a news conference on the outcome of the State Executive Council at the Government House, Umuahia.

He said the refinery would be the first major project to be executed in the park and it would begin to operate fully in 2025.

The commissioner said that the refinery would provide 2,000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs for the teeming youths of Abia.

He said, “The project will help to provide refined products for the people of Abia as well as increase our revenue base as a state. So, it is a project that is very important to this government and every effort is being put in place to ensure that the date is met. The state government is also ready to reap from the petroleum and mineral endowments in the state.”

Mr Kanu said that a lot of investors had shown serious interest in setting up their investments in Abia, especially in the petroleum sector.

According to him, it will aid in boosting efforts made to provide job opportunities for the youth.

He added that “such investments will affect our revenue base and generally reflect on the economic and developmental well-being of the state.”

Also, the Commissioner for Petroleum and Minerals, Prof. Joel Ogbonna, said the establishment of AIIP showed the government’s resolve to transform the state.

Mr Ogbonna said that the government had taken steps to ensure that it would explore the entire value chain of petroleum.

He also said the establishment of a modular refinery in the state would provide the government with a huge opportunity to increase job creation and transformation in the state.

Mr Ogbonna said that the state had over 17 solid minerals and concerted efforts were being made to harness the solid minerals for the benefit of Abia.

(NAN)