The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (Warri Refinery), with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has officially commenced operations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced on Monday.
This development follows closely on the heels of the resumption of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which recently began producing at a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day.
The announcement was made during an inspection tour of the facility led by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, and other key officials.
Speaking to journalists during the tour, Kyari emphasized the progress made at the facility, acknowledging that repairs are ongoing but operations have already commenced.
“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,” Kyari said.
“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,” he added.
Located in the Ekpan, Uvwie, and Ubeji areas of Delta State, the Warri Refinery plays a critical role in Nigeria’s petrochemical industry.
The facility produces approximately 13,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black, catering to markets in the southern and southwestern regions of the country.
Originally commissioned in 1978, the refinery has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, contributing significantly to the country’s energy and economic stability.
