The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State.
The discovery followed an operation carried out by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on Tuesday, November 3, after receiving credible intelligence about the facility. According to the EFCC, the refinery was deserted when its operatives arrived.
The discovery came after an earlier raid on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area, where traces of waste materials from refining activities were found. During the operation, the operatives discovered underground tanks reportedly used for heating and processing sludge oil.
Two of the tanks contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators transported sludge oil, also called black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State to the facility in Ogere for processing.
The commission said the operators used intense heat to process the sludge oil, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters to produce AGO for sale in the Nigerian market.Security personnel at the facility reportedly told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never revealed their identities or the name of the company responsible for the operation.
