The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced the successful reactivation of the Warri Refinery with the re-streaming of the plant’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU).
This milestone marks the beginning of the gradual startup of the refinery following its comprehensive rehabilitation.
In a statement issued by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye, the company emphasized that it had fulfilled its commitment to reviving the Warri Refinery by the end of 2024.
During a recent tour of the Warri Refinery Complex in Ekpan, Delta State, the Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), Chu Efifia, confirmed that the CDU had been successfully re-streamed.
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He added that the refinery had started producing key petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), Household Kerosene (HHK), Naphtha, and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO).
Efifia provided further insight into the refinery’s operational capacity, revealing that the plant is currently processing 75,000 barrels per day (bpd), which represents 60% of its installed capacity.
This has led to the production of 2.9 million liters of diesel, 1.9 million liters of kerosene, and 4.9 million liters of fuel oil.
He also noted that the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, would follow shortly as additional units of the refinery are brought online.
Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., highlighted the significance of this achievement, calling it a crucial step towards Nigeria’s goal of becoming a net producer and exporter of refined petroleum products.
Similarly, Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NNPC Ltd., expressed satisfaction with the progress, stating that Nigeria is on track to phase out the importation of petroleum products and transition into a net exporter.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), congratulated NNPC Ltd. on the successful restart of the refinery.
He noted that the increased production capacity would enhance competition in the market, which is expected to lead to a reduction in the pump price of petroleum products, ultimately benefiting Nigerian consumers.
The Warri Refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, was originally commissioned in 1978.
It was shut down for rehabilitation in 2021, with Daewoo Engineering serving as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the refurbishment.
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