The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said the Warri refinery is currently loading eight trucks of diesel and kerosene per day.
This, it said, was due to the intentional curtailing of operations on January 25.
The NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this on Friday while debunking claims of an explosion at the Warri refinery.
In a statement, Soneye said reports suggesting that an explosion had occurred at the refinery complex were false.
“NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false,” he stated.
Soneye explained, “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 on-specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil and kerosene,” Soneye disclosed.
The NNPC spokesperson pointed out that the routine maintenance was progressing as planned, and Area 1 will be back in operation within the next few days.
However, he declared that the ongoing interventions did not stop the loading of trucks.
“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,” he added.
In December, the NNPC announced that the once moribund Warri refinery had commenced operations.
The refinery was said to have commenced the production of diesel and kerosene while petrol is yet to be produced.
Security experts argue that undocumented foreigners holding a NIN is not new, adding that the tide will continue if there is no political will to stem it.
An expert, Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh (retd.), said, “There is nothing new in what is happening in the country. Our borders are porous. But the political will is what is lacking.
“Everywhere you go in some northern states, you see many non-Nigerians moving freely without documentation. Can Nigerians do that in Chad or Cameroon? No! Can you walk in Niger Republic without your papers as a Nigerian?
“However, because of socio-cultural and religious factors, there has not been much action taken for several years now. But I will give it to the current leadership, both of the President Bola Tinubu and the Service Chiefs. There is so much to be done. But we must give it to them.”