NNPCL Announces Successful Resumption of Warri Refinery Operations
The 125,000 barrels per day Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Warri, Delta State, is now fully operational, as announced by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), during a tour of the facility on Monday.
Although Kyari confirmed that the refinery is not yet 100% complete, he emphasized that the plant is up and running, producing essential products such as diesel (AGO), kerosene, and naphtha. He also noted that the refinery’s operations will support Nigeria’s goal of becoming a petroleum product exporter, aligning with President Tinubu’s vision for the country’s energy sector.
Kyari praised the determination and commitment of the NNPCL team and contractors who worked together to restart the plant. He highlighted the significance of this achievement, particularly given that the refinery had been deliberately shut down in the past. Kyari emphasized that the successful restart of WRPC proved that such projects could be revived, despite skepticism about the country’s ability to undertake large-scale infrastructure projects. He also mentioned that the ongoing success at WRPC is part of a broader strategy to bring all three of Nigeria’s major refineries back online.
The Warri refinery, located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, produces 13,000 metric tons of polypropylene and 18,000 metric tons of carbon black annually. Originally commissioned in 1978, the plant serves the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria. The NNPCL had initially set the mechanical completion date for the facility in the first quarter of 2024, and the successful restart of Area 1 of the refinery marks significant progress toward that goal. The refinery’s operation is expected to contribute to the country’s domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
Kyari also highlighted that the Port Harcourt 65,000 barrels per day refinery had recently resumed operations, and the Kaduna refinery is also on track to start production. He teased that while no specific dates would be given, Nigerians could expect surprising developments soon. The successful reactivation of these refineries is part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to revitalize Nigeria’s oil sector and achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum product production.
