The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has declared that the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta State is now operational. This development follows the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day old Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State.
Inspection Tour Highlights Progress
NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, made this announcement on Monday during a tour of the Warri facility. Accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Kyari showcased the facility’s progress and underscored its operational readiness, though repairs are still ongoing.
Kyari stated, “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. We want you to see that this is real.”
Production Capacity
Located in Warri’s Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji areas, the petrochemical plant produces:
13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene
18,000 MTA of carbon black
The refinery, commissioned in 1978, primarily supplies the southern and southwestern Nigerian markets.
Timelines and Expectations
The mechanical completion of the refinery had been scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, as per NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye. Despite the repairs being ongoing, the facility has commenced partial operations, reflecting NNPCL’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Significance
The WRPC is one of Nigeria’s four refineries, alongside:
The old and new Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State
The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State
With the Warri refinery operational, Nigeria is expected to reduce its reliance on imported petroleum products, address domestic energy needs, and bolster its economy. This aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the nation’s refining infrastructure and ensure energy security.
