Barely a month after resuming operations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced that the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri Refinery is undergoing a planned maintenance program to enhance efficiency and ensure optimal operations.
NNPCL also dismissed reports of an explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), clarifying that operations were temporarily halted for scheduled repairs.
In a statement released on Friday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, emphasized that the maintenance, which began on January 25, 2025, is critical for producing high-quality refined products, including Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene.
No Explosion at Warri Refinery
NNPCL firmly denied rumors of an explosion at the facility. The statement read:
“NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.
On January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were intentionally curtailed to carry out necessary intervention works on select equipment, including field instruments that were impacting sustainable and steady operations.
These intervention works are essential to ensure the production of specification-finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil and Kerosene. The routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and Area 1 will be back in operation within the next few days.”
Continued AGO Supply Amid Maintenance
Despite the ongoing maintenance, NNPCL assured stakeholders that AGO loading had been maintained at an average of eight trucks per day.
Soneye added, “Despite ongoing interventions over the past 11 days, AGO loading has been maintained at an average of eight trucks per day, with a sufficient supply available to sustain ongoing truck load-out operations. NNPC Ltd remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted product supply and appreciates the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders as it completes these essential maintenance activities.”
Background on Refinery Rehabilitation
The Warri Refinery resumed operations weeks after NNPCL restarted the Port Harcourt Refinery’s 60,000-barrel-per-day unit in November 2024. In August 2021, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries. The refinery is expected to produce and store critical petroleum products, including Straight Run Kerosene, Automotive Gas Oil, and both heavy and light Naphtha.
Industry Response
Last week, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria confirmed that its members are now loading petroleum products from both the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. This development signals a gradual improvement in local refining capacity, reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
