The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced the resumption of operations at the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company in Delta State, which has a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day.
This development follows closely on the heels of the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari made the announcement during an inspection tour of the Warri facility on Monday. He was joined by officials, including Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Addressing the tour group, Kyari emphasized the need to showcase the progress made on the facility, even as repair works continue.
“This plant is operational, even though the repairs are not fully completed,” Kyari said. “Many people doubt that such advancements are possible in Nigeria. We are here to demonstrate that it is indeed real.”
The WRPC, located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, produces 13,000 metric tonnes per annum of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black. Built to serve markets in Nigeria’s southern and southwestern regions, the refinery was commissioned in 1978 and has been managed by NNPCL since its inception.
Although the mechanical completion of the facility was initially projected for the first quarter of 2024, operations have commenced earlier than anticipated. NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye had previously stated, “Warri should be done by Q1 2024.”
The refinery’s restart signals progress in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported petroleum products and improve energy security. Kyari reiterated the commitment to completing the remaining work and ensuring optimal functionality of the facility.
