The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Oil, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, are set to unveil Nigeria’s largest jet fuel depot, located near the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road in Lagos.
This cutting-edge facility, known as the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI-2), will be officially commissioned on October 17, 2024.
According to The PUNCH, in a statement shared by the Group Managing Director of Masters Energy and Chairperson of the JUHI-2 Board, Mrs. Patience Dappa, it was revealed that this depot will play a critical role in reshaping the country’s aviation fuel supply chain.
Dappa stated, “The Nigerian aviation industry is poised for a significant transformation with the upcoming commissioning of the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2, the country’s largest airside jet fuel depot. The facility will officially open on October 17, 2024, at the JUHI-2 Facility located off the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road, Lagos.”
Situated strategically to serve key aviation hubs such as Murtala Muhammed International Airport MMA2, MMA1, and nearby airbases, the 15-million-litre capacity depot is designed to ensure a steady supply of jet fuel.
This is expected to address fuel scarcity issues that have hampered the industry in the past, providing a reliable source of aviation fuel to both domestic and international airlines.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Plc and Chairman of the JUHI-2 Commissioning Committee, Abiola Lawal, emphasized the depot’s importance for a variety of aviation operations.
He noted that it will cater to the fuel needs of scheduled and unscheduled flights, ranging from commercial airlines to cargo and hajj flights.
“This state-of-the-art depot will significantly enhance aviation operations, meeting the fuel demands of a wide range of flight activities,” Lawal remarked.
The commissioning will attract high-profile stakeholders from both the aviation and energy sectors, underscoring the significance of the project to the nation’s infrastructure.
The JUHI-2 depot, a collaboration among major energy companies including Eterna Plc, Masters Energy, Techno Oil, Quest Oil, Rahamaniyya, Ibafon Oil, and First Deep Water Limited, spans 46,000 square meters. Its modern design incorporates advanced filtration systems, a laboratory for fuel quality assurance, and robust fire prevention measures.
The depot is also equipped with cutting-edge operational capabilities, such as four bowsers loading concurrently and a jet fuel discharge system supported by dedicated trucks, positioning it as the most advanced facility of its kind in Nigeria.
Lawal further highlighted that, “The depot’s advanced operational support facilities position it as the best of its kind in Nigeria,” stressing the technological advancements that set the JUHI-2 apart from other installations.
