The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has successfully restarted the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State. The refinery, with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has resumed operations at 60% capacity, boosting Nigeria’s local refining capacity.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, led a team of stakeholders and observers to the facility on Monday. “This plant is running. Although it is not 100% complete, we are still in the process,” he reassured.
“We have proved that it is possible to restart a plant that you deliberately shut down.”
The WRPC, situated in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji areas of Warri, Delta State, has an annual production capacity of 13,000 metric tons of polypropylene and 18,000 metric tons of carbon black.
Commissioned in 1978, the refinery was established to cater to the markets in Nigeria’s southern and southwestern regions. However, it had been inactive for several years despite years of pumping funds, government after government to rehabilitate it.
Tinubu Takes Credit/Congratulate NNPC
President Bola Tinubu congratulated the NNPC on the successful restart of the WRPC, describing it as a remarkable achievement that strengthens Nigerians’ hope in his administration.
“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians. This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future,” he said.
The President appropriated the successful restart of WRPC to his administration’s comprehensive plan of ensuring energy security for the country.
However, the contract for rehabilitating the Warri and Kaduna refineries predates Mr Tinubu’s administration. The contract was awarded in 2021 by the past administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari at $1.48 billion.
With the Warri refinery operating at 60% capacity, Nigeria is on course to become a hub for downstream oil industrial activities in Africa.
The WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha.
The restart of the WRPC follows the recent initiation of crude refining at the old Port Harcourt Refinery, which resumed operations in November.
The NNPC is working to restore all four state-owned refineries to good working condition. The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the second refinery in Port Harcourt are expected to come online soon.
President Tinubu has directed the NNPC to accelerate repair work on the Kaduna Refinery and the second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s oil energy self-sufficiency.
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