The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) has resumed partial operations after being dormant for nearly a decade. This marks a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to restore functionality to its local refineries and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
The refinery, which had been inactive since 2015 due to prolonged repairs, began refining activities last Saturday. Crude oil was successfully pumped into the Area 1 plant, signalling the revival of operations.
This development comes about a month after the old Port Harcourt Refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, also resumed operations.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, made the announcement during a facility tour of the Warri Refinery on Monday. Kyari, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, emphasized the significance of this achievement.
In a video shared by Channels TV, Kyari addressed the tour team, explaining that while the refinery’s repairs were not yet fully completed, the resumption of operations was a testament to the progress made.
He stated, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
The inspection tour aimed to provide Nigerians with a firsthand view of the progress achieved and to dispel skepticism surrounding the viability of local refinery projects.
The resumption of operations at the Warri Refinery is seen as a significant step towards boosting domestic refining capacity, ensuring energy security, and reducing the nation’s reliance on costly petroleum imports.
