By Abdullahi Sabiu
Less than a month after the restart of 60,000 bpd operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, the Warri refinery is also back on stream with the capacity to produce 60 percent of 125,000 barrels per day.
The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) breathed back to life, Monday, December 30 in fulfilment of the Tonubu administration’s determination to ramp up local refining capacity and make Nigeria a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa.
The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation and overhaul of the four state-owned refineries.
President Tinubu noted with confidence that with the 125,000 (bpd) Warri Refinery now operating at 60 percent capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security is entirely on course.
He praised the Mele Kyari-led management of the NNPCL for working hard to restore Nigeria’s glory and pride as a major oil-producing country.
“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians,” President Tinubu said in a statement his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
“This development is a remarkable way to end the year following the feat recorded earlier with the old Port Harcourt Refinery,” the president said, adding, “I am equally happy that NNPC Limited is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to good working condition.”
“I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa,” President Tinubu said.
He enjoined NNPCL to accelerate repair work on Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 (bpd) second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider.
WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha.
