Azikel Refinery Takes Major Step Forward As CDU Arrives In Yenagoa

A major milestone has been recorded in the development of the Azikel Refinery as the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), the core processing component of the facility, has arrived in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The CDU, alongside other critical completion equipment, was officially received by the Azikel Group at its Corporate Base in Swali on Friday, August 7, 2026.

The arrival of the major equipment marks a significant step towards the completion and commissioning of the 25,000-barrel-per-day Azikel Refinery, one of the major industrial projects in Bayelsa State.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Group President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani Godbless, CFR, described the development as a major breakthrough in the refinery project.

Dr. Eruani said the arrival of the CDU represented a defining moment for the project, declaring that the refinery had reached what he described as its “mountain top.”

The Azikel Refinery is expected to contribute significantly to local refining capacity while reducing dependence on imported petroleum products. The project is also projected to create employment opportunities and stimulate economic and industrial development across Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta region.

The arrival of the CDU therefore signals renewed momentum towards the completion and eventual commissioning of the refinery, which is expected to play an important role in Nigeria’s growing domestic refining capacity.