By Sola Ojewusi
The Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta State has resumed operations, producing 125,000 barrels per day, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
This announcement was made by NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, during a facility tour on Monday. Addressing the team before the tour, Kyari emphasized the significance of the refinery’s revival, stating, “This plant is running. Although it is not 100 percent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think real progress is not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
Kyari was accompanied by Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and other officials during the tour.
Located at Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji in Warri, the facility produces 13,000 metric tons per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black. Originally commissioned in 1978, the WRPC was designed to supply petroleum products to the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria.
NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye had earlier announced that the refinery’s mechanical completion was scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. “Warri should be done by Q1 2024,” he stated.
The WRPC’s revival is expected to enhance domestic refining capacity, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products and boosting the nation’s economic stability.
