The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the resumption of operations at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), boasting a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day.
This progress follows closely on the heels of the Port Harcourt Refinery’s commencement of operations at a 60,000-barrel-per-day capacity.
During an inspection of the facility on Monday, NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, disclosed the development, accompanied by Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and other officials.
In a video shared by Channels TV, Kyari highlighted the advancements made at the refinery, emphasizing that operations have commenced despite ongoing repairs. “This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process,” Kyari stated. He further added, “Many people think these things are not real. We want you to see that this is real.”
Located in the Ekpan, Uvwie, and Ubeji areas of Delta State, the Warri Refinery is a key player in Nigeria’s petrochemical industry. It produces around 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black, serving markets in the southern and southwestern regions.
First commissioned in 1978, the refinery remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. Despite earlier projections for mechanical completion by the first quarter of 2024, the facility is operational ahead of schedule, as confirmed by NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye.
The WRPC is one of four refineries under NNPCL’s management, alongside the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.
This milestone underscores NNPCL’s dedication to boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity, reducing reliance on imported petroleum products, and revitalizing the nation’s downstream sector.
