By Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu has praised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its successful rehabilitation and re-opening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), describing it as a significant milestone in his administration’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Warri Refinery, which had been inactive for years, is now operating at 60% of its 125,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) capacity.
This development follows the earlier reactivation of 60,000 bpd production capacity at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.
In a statement from the State House, President Tinubu expressed his joy at the progress, highlighting it as evidence of his administration’s resolve to increase local refining capacity and position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s downstream oil industry.
“This achievement brings joy and strengthens Nigerians’ hope for a greater and better future.”
“The restart of the Warri Refinery is a remarkable way to end the year, building on the progress made with the Port Harcourt Refinery. I commend the Mele Kyari-led NNPCL team for their tireless efforts in restoring our national pride as a major oil-producing nation,” President Tinubu said.
The rehabilitation of the Warri Refinery is part of a broader initiative initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to overhaul Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring energy efficiency and security, urging NNPCL to expedite ongoing repairs at the Kaduna Refinery and the second Port Harcourt Refinery, which has a 150,000 bpd capacity.
WRPC is set to prioritise the production and storage of critical petroleum products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and both heavy and light Naphtha.
The President concluded his remarks with optimism about Nigeria’s future as a global energy provider, saying, “This achievement is a testament to our determination to restore all four refineries to full functionality and make Nigeria the hub of crude oil refining in Africa.”
A Renewed Hope for Nigeria’s Energy Sector
The re-opening of the Warri Refinery is a significant step towards reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
It signals a renewed focus on leveraging the country’s vast oil resources to drive economic growth, create jobs, and ensure energy sustainability.
