The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) is now operational. The refinery, with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, is located in Warri, Delta State.
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, disclosed this during a facility tour on Monday. Addressing the team before the tour, Kyari emphasized the progress made in restarting the plant.
“We are taking you through our plant. While it is not 100% complete, it is currently running. Many people believe these things are not real, and that significant progress is impossible in this country. We want you to see that this is real,” Kyari said.
He commended the efforts of the NNPCL team and collaborating contractors, stating, “This achievement is a result of our collaboration with contractors. We have demonstrated that it is possible to restart a plant that was deliberately shut down.”
Operational Stages
Kyari explained that the refinery is being restarted in phases, with the first phase, referred to as Area 1, now operational. This phase produces diesel (AGO), kerosene, and naphtha, which are critical for local consumption and export.
“This country will generate revenue to fulfil the president’s promise that we will become an exporter of petroleum products,” he added.
The initiative aligns with a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the full operation of all three national refineries. Kyari highlighted ongoing progress at the other facilities, including the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has restarted crude refining at its 65,000-barrel-per-day capacity. The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company is also expected to resume operations soon.
“We will surprise you,” Kyari said, refraining from giving specific timelines.
Historical Context
The WRPC, located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, was commissioned in 1978 and has historically supplied Nigeria’s southern and southwestern markets. It has the capacity to produce 13,000 metric tons per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), joined Kyari during the tour.
According to NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, the mechanical completion of the WRPC was initially slated for the first quarter of 2024. The ongoing revival of Nigeria’s refineries is seen as a significant step towards reducing fuel imports and boosting local production.
The WRPC’s resumption of operations marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to revitalize its refining sector and achieve energy self-sufficiency.