The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State, with suspected diesel found at the facility.
The discovery was made on Saturday, October 31, by operatives of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance of illegal sludge oil refining activities in the area.
The commission disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
According to the EFCC, the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier operation that led to the discovery of four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.
However, the operatives recovered waste products from the refining process and discovered underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
Two of the tanks reportedly contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
Preliminary investigations showed that the operators allegedly sourced black sludge, a petroleum waste product, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before transporting it to Ogere for illegal processing.
The EFCC said the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, forcing lighter petroleum components through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.
In a startling revelation, personnel found at the facility reportedly told investigators that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.
The commission said it had taken over the premises while investigations continued to identify the operators, establish ownership of the facility and determine the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage.
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