Warri Refinery Commences Operations at 60,000 Barrels Per Day, Says NNPCL
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has commenced operations at an initial 60,000 barrels per day.
This development comes just weeks after the 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt Refinery began operations. The announcement was made by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, during a facility tour on Monday.
Progress Amid Repairs
Kyari revealed that while the WRPC facility is not yet fully operational, significant progress has been made. Addressing a team that included Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kyari emphasized the importance of transparency.
“We want Nigerians to see that this is real. The plant is running, even though repairs are not 100% complete,” Kyari said in a video posted by Channels TV.
Petrochemical Production Capacity
Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Delta State, the WRPC produces:
- 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene.
- 18,000 MTA of carbon black.
Originally commissioned in 1978, the refinery was built to supply markets in Nigeria’s southern and southwestern regions.
Timeline and Strategic Importance
Although the mechanical completion of the refinery was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, operations have commenced ahead of schedule. Olufemi Soneye, an NNPCL spokesperson, previously stated, “Warri should be done by Q1 2024.”
The WRPC is one of four refineries in Nigeria, including the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.
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Boost to Local Refining Capacity
This milestone represents a significant step toward increasing Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, reducing reliance on imported petroleum products, and boosting the country’s energy security.
