President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his profound joy at the reopening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), describing it as another remarkable achievement in 2024 that strengthens Nigerians’ hope in his administration.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga announced that the Warri Refinery has resumed operations, just weeks after NNPCL restarted 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) production at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.
With WRPC now back in operation after several years of inactivity, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to ramping up local refining capacity and positioning Nigeria as a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa. The president noted that the All Progressives Congress-led administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had initially awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation of the country’s four state-owned refineries.
Speaking on the achievement, President Tinubu expressed confidence that the Warri Refinery’s 125,000 bpd capacity, currently operating at 60%, marks significant progress in his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security.
The president commended NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari and his team for their dedication to restoring Nigeria’s glory as a major oil-producing country and making it a hub for crude oil refining in Africa.
President Tinubu also urged NNPCL to accelerate rehabilitation work on the Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 bpd second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider.
The Warri Refinery will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and both heavy and light Naphtha, enhancing Nigeria’s energy output and industrial activities.
Bello Wakili
