Technical / Production Manager at EBENCO Group

• The Technical / Production Manager will provide overall technical, operational, and regulatory leadership for the construction, commissioning, and operation of Ebenco Global Link Limited’s NUPRC-licensed modular refinery.
• The role is accountable for ensuring the refinery is developed, operated, and expanded in strict compliance with Nigerian downstream petroleum regulations, particularly those issued by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), while achieving safe, efficient, and commercially viable production.

Core Responsibilities

Regulatory & Statutory Compliance (Nigeria-Focused)

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
• Lead technical compliance with approvals issued by NUPRC during refinery development and crude supply interfaces.
• Ensure operational compliance with NMDPRA requirements for refining, storage, distribution, and product evacuation.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections, audits, and reporting obligations to NUPRC, NMDPRA, NESREA, DPR legacy standards, and state authorities.
• Support permitting processes including:
  • License to Construct (LTC)
  • Approval to Operate (ATO)
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
  • Fire Safety and Occupational Safety approvals

Refinery Construction & Commissioning

• Provide technical oversight during EPC/EPCM execution of the modular refinery.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables in line with Nigerian codes, API, ASME, and ISO standards.
• Coordinate pre-commissioning, cold and hot commissioning, start-up, and performance testing.
• Ensure compliance with approved refinery capacity, process configuration, and environmental conditions as stipulated by regulators.

Production & Operations Management

• Manage daily refinery operations to achieve approved throughput capacity and product slate (PMS, AGO, DPK, Naphtha, etc.).
• Ensure refined products meet NMDPRA quality specifications and Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).
• Establish and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), emergency response plans, and operating manuals.
• Oversee tank farm operations, crude receipt, product storage, and evacuation logistics.

Process Safety, HSE & Environmental Management

• Implement and maintain Process Safety Management (PSM) systems in line with Nigerian regulatory expectations.
• Lead HAZID, HAZOP, QRA, and risk assessments as required by regulators.
• Ensure strict compliance with NESREA environmental regulations, including waste management, emissions, effluent treatment, and spill prevention.
• Maintain zero-tolerance approach to unsafe acts and incidents.

Maintenance & Asset Integrity

• Establish preventive and predictive maintenance programs compliant with Nigerian refinery operational standards.
• Ensure asset integrity management for pressure vessels, pipelines, tanks, rotating equipment, and utilities.
• Coordinate statutory testing, certifications, and inspections.

People, Training & Local Content

• Build and lead a technically competent Nigerian workforce in line with Nigerian Content Development (NCDMB) expectations.
• Ensure competency-based training for operators and technicians.
• Support succession planning and local capacity development.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Petroleum Engineering.
• COREN registration is mandatory.
• Postgraduate degree or refinery-specific certifications are advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years refinery or downstream oil & gas experience.
• Direct experience in modular refinery construction, commissioning, or operation in Nigeria is highly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of NUPRC, NMDPRA, NESREA, and PIA regulatory frameworks.

Key Competencies

• Modular refinery operations
• Nigerian regulatory compliance
• Commissioning & start-up leadership
• Process safety & HSE management
• Stakeholder and regulator engagement