Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has performed the ground breaking for a Petrochemical Company, Delmar Petroleum and Jetty located at Itak Idim Ekpe, Ibeno Local Government Area of the State.
The ground breaking which is part of activities to mark Governor Udom Emmanuel’s one year in Office has open the window for the influx of Oil and Gas investors to the State.
Performing the ground breaking, the State Chief Executive lauded Delmar Group of Companies for the choice of Akwa Ibom State for the investment saying he has begun negotiations with the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation and Exxon Mobil for the supply of Gas and Crude oil for the take off of the project or they grant access for the sourcing of the product within the marginal field to feed the Plant pointing out that the coastlines would play host to several industries including fertiliser Plant.
The Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, stated that the project would employ five thousand people and that the area will witness unparalleled development and pleaded for cooperation from the host Communities to enable the project kick off within the stipulated time frame.
In his speech, the Chairman Delmar Petroleum and Jetty, Dr Austin Odili congratulated Governor Udom Emmanuel for his ability to woo investors and the foresight to plan for the industrialisation of the state saying the investment would yield multiple gains.
He said that the prevailing economic woes experienced in the country would have been averted if the leaders were able to plan ahead of time and assured that the firm, on take-off, would produce for both local and International market.
Dr Odilli explained that Delmar Petroleum which is an Oil and Gas trading Company, incorporated in 1993 with specialisation in the sales, distribution and storage of Petroleum Products will have access to the deep sea through a conventional Bouy Mooring system for loading and discharging large capacity product tankers from 30kt to 100kt.
He added that the Company has storage facilities for coastal and Inland Petroleum Products as well as the necessary skills, assets and infrastructure for supplying and trading refined petroleum products across the world.
The rationale for locating the terminal in the state, according to him, is to promote the State’s strategic position and unique logistics advantage within the Gulf of Guinea to service customers which include International Oil Companies, Major Retail and Consumer Enterprises within Nigeria, West and Central Africa.
The Paramount Ruler for Ibeno Local Government Area and Chairman State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Owong Effiong Achanga expressed delight for the citing of the project in the Area and solicited for the catchment area to be given priority in employment and pledged to ensure a congenial environment for the industry to operate.