Dangote Oil Refining Company will be the highest employer of chemical engineers in the country when the refinery comes on stream.
The National President of Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCh), Engr. Saidu A. Muhammed, disclosed this during the society’s tour of the refinery at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos at the weekend.
Engr. Muhammed, who led members of NSCh on a tour of the Dangote 650,000 barrels-per- day refinery project in Lagos, to mark the end of the association’s 51st anniversary celebration, said the industries in Nigeria have not been able to absorb the over 1,000 engineers yearly
from Nigerian Universities.
“We, the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, have keenly been watching the progress of the refinery project.
“When completed, the refinery will be the singular largest employer of chemical engineers in the country. Nigerian universities turn out about 1,000 chemical engineers every year and the avenues for employment have been very scarce.
“The industry has not been able to fully absorb the number of chemical engineers that passed out of the universities years ago. Some companies within the sector are not running at optimum level. Therefore, employment is really key.
“However, from the energy security point of view, chemical engineers are always concerned about what can be put in place to guarantee energy security for the country. Nigeria is blessed with abundant
crude oil, but unfortunately, we are importing petroleum products simply because Nigeria’s own refineries are not utilising their installed capacity,” he said.
Speaking also at the event, the Technical Consultant to the President of Dangote Group, Engr. Babajide Soyode, commended the chemical engineers for coming on a tour of the refinery.
According to Soyode, Dangote’s refinery will help Nigeria meet and exceed its current demand for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and kerosene, leaving ample product for export.
“This connotes significant positive economic impact on Nigeria and the West African region, transforming Nigeria from a net importer to exporter of refined petroleum products and curtailing significant foreign exchange outflows.
“Additionally, the availability of excess fuel will also provide a catalyst for eliminating Nigeria’s expensive fuel subsidy,” he added.
