The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced it has commenced operations at the country’s 125,000 barrels per day capacity refinery in Warri, the Delta State Capital.
Speaking during a guided tour of the Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), on Monday, December 30, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, disclosed that the refinery is not fully functional, but assured that efforts are ongoing to achieve 100 percent functionality.
Clarifying doubts and concerns by Nigerians regarding the authenticity of the refinery, Kyari stated: “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. It is not 100 percent. We are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
The NNPC boss, who was accompanied by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Chief Executive Officer Farouk Ahmen, appreciated the host community for their support during the rehabilitation of the Warri Refinery.
It should be recalled that the NNPC on November announced the commencement of production at one of Nigeria’s Refinery, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after several postponements and a series of deadline flops by the company.
The NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, who confirmed the commissioning via a statement, described the Port Harcourt Refinery as a monumental achievement for Nigeria.
With Dangote Refinery, Port Harcourt Refinery, and Warri Refinery in place, Nigerians are hopeful that fuel scarcity will be eliminated and the product would be affordable.
