EFCC uncovers illegal Chinese-run oil refinery in Ogun

By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal refinery in Ogere, Ogun State, where Chinese nationals allegedly processed sludge oil into diesel for sale in the Nigerian market. The discovery followed a raid by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on Saturday, October 31, after intelligence and surveillance linked the facility to suspected illegal sludge oil refining.

The EFCC, in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, said the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area. But the operatives found waste products from the refining process, underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, and substances suspected to be diesel.

“However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location,” the commission said. Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. Preliminary investigations showed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before transporting it to the facility in Ogere for processing.

According to the EFCC, the suspected operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through a series of chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market. The commission said security personnel at the facility told its operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.

“Security personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility,” the statement said. The EFCC said it had taken over the premises as investigations continued to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.

It added that the investigation would also determine the extent of the suspected economic sabotage linked to the operation. “Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC have since taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage,” the commission said.