The Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta State has resumed production with an initial capacity of 125,000 barrels per day. The announcement was made on Monday during a facility tour led by Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Kyari highlighted the significance of the refinery’s revival, stating, “This facility is operational, though not yet at full capacity. Many doubt such progress is possible in Nigeria, but we aim to prove otherwise.” He was joined by Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and other key stakeholders.
This development comes amidst persistent challenges in Nigeria’s refinery sector. The Port Harcourt Refinery, for instance, operates only its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), which is unable to produce high-value products like gasoline or jet fuel due to non-functional Conversion Units, such as catalytic crackers or hydrocrackers.
Critics, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, have raised concerns over the allocation of $2.9 billion for refinery rehabilitation and the underutilization of facilities like the Port Harcourt Refinery, which processes just 60,000 barrels daily against its 150,000-barrel capacity.
Insiders argue that addressing non-functional Conversion Units is critical for true optimization. “What’s happening now is no different from pre-2019 operations, despite the fanfare,” an anonymous source remarked.
While the reopening of the Warri Refinery is a positive step, unresolved issues across the sector highlight the need for a more comprehensive strategy to address Nigeria’s refining and energy challenges.
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