Tinubu hails Kyari-led NNPCL over resumption of oil production at Warri refinery
Nigerian President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the re-opening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited; it was a remarkable achievement in 2024 that has bolstered Nigerians’ confidence in his administration.
The president highlighted the restart of the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri refinery as a “noteworthy way to end the year,” reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring all four refineries in the country to full operational capacity.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled ‘President Tinubu Commends NNPCL Over the Re-Opening of Warri Refinery,’ Tinubu applauded the Mele Kyari-led NNPCL for the achievement.
“The restart of the Warri Refinery today brings joy and hope to Nigerians. This milestone will further strengthen the confidence of Nigerians in the brighter future we promised. It is a remarkable way to end the year, following the earlier success with the old Port Harcourt Refinery. I am pleased that NNPCL is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to full working condition.
“I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for their hard work in restoring our national pride and positioning Nigeria as a hub for crude oil refining in Africa,” Tinubu said.
The Warri Refinery’s resumption comes just a month after operations began at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
According to the statement, the rehabilitation and overhaul of the country’s four state-owned refineries were initially awarded under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Tinubu expressed confidence that, with the 125,000 barrels-per-day Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to achieve energy efficiency and security is on track. He commended the Mele Kyari-led NNPCL for working tirelessly to restore Nigeria’s pride as a major oil-producing nation.
“With the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) back in operation after years of inactivity, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to increase local refining capacity and establish Nigeria as a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa.
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“Today, the Warri Refinery has resumed operations just weeks after the 60,000 barrels-per-day Port Harcourt Refinery restarted in November. President Tinubu urged NNPCL to accelerate the repair of the Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 barrels-per-day second Port Harcourt Refinery to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy leader.
“WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha,” the statement read.
The Informant247 reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Monday announced that the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company in Warri, Delta State, has begun operations.
NNPCL’s announcement came less than a month after the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
This was disclosed by the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, during a tour of the facility on Monday.
A video posted by Channels TV on Monday showed Kyari addressing a tour team, which included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.
Before the tour commenced, Kyari explained that the inspection aimed to show Nigerians the level of work completed so far.
According to him, although the repairs on the facility are not yet 100 per cent complete, operations have commenced.
He said, “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.”
Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Warri, the petrochemical plant produces 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.
Commissioned in 1978 and managed by NNPCL, the WRPC was built to supply markets in the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria.
The mechanical completion of the facility was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, according to the NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye.
“Warri should be done by Q1 (first quarter) 2024,” Soneye stated.
Source: PUNCH
