The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) has resumed operations after years of inactivity, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s refining sector. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the development as a significant achievement and praised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for its efforts in restoring the country’s refining capacity and industrial prominence.
The Warri Refinery, now operating at 60% of its 125,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity, follows the recent restart of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which resumed 60,000 bpd operations in November. These milestones are part of a broader initiative to rehabilitate Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, a process initially launched under the Buhari administration and now delivering tangible results under Tinubu’s leadership.
President Tinubu emphasized the strategic importance of these efforts in reducing reliance on imported petroleum products and creating a more self-sufficient energy sector. He also directed NNPCL to expedite the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, with a capacity of 110,000 bpd, and the second unit of the Port Harcourt Refinery, capable of refining 150,000 bpd once fully operational.
The President commended the leadership of NNPCL, led by Mele Kyari, for their commitment to revitalizing the nation’s refining capacity and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to achieve energy efficiency and security. He noted that the reopening of Warri and Port Harcourt refineries is a step toward making Nigeria a hub for oil refining in Africa.
The Warri Refinery will focus on producing critical petroleum products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Naphtha.
These developments signaled a renewed drive to stabilize energy costs, boost foreign exchange earnings, and foster economic diversification through industrial growth.
