Warri Refinery Commences Production of Diesel, Kerosene, Others

Mr Kyari disclosed this during a tour of the facility in the South-South state on Monday.

“We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, 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,” he said during a briefing with newsmen earlier this morning.

He was on the tour with the chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, and other engineers and officials.

“This plant has three stages. We have started stage one which is called Area 1, [which is] able to produce AGO (diesel), Kerosene, naphtha and others. These are brands of high-quality products required in the country.

“We will also be able to export them. This country will make money to meet the promises of Mr president that this country will be an exporter of petroleum products.

“I must put on record the development was as a result of the charge by Mr President that we must get all three refineries to work. It is already happening.

“We have successfully started the Port Harcourt 65,000 barrels per day refinery.

“We have also started the area 1 of the Warri refinery. The other plants that will produce PMS will also come live,” he added.

Located at Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Warri, the petrochemical plant can produce 13,000 million tons per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.

Commissioned in 1978 and managed by the NNPC, the WRPC was built to supply markets in the south and southwest regions of Nigeria.

The mechanical completion of the facility was earlier scheduled for completion in the first quarter of this year, according to the spokesperson for the NNPC Limited, Mr Olufemi Soneye.

“Warri should be done by Q1 (first quarter) 2024,” he stated.

However, there were several delays to the commencement.

This new development comes following the recent commencement of crude refining at the old Port Harcourt Refinery, as announced by the state oil company.

Nigeria’s four refineries have produced no fuel for years, leaving the country to rely on imported petroleum products.

However, since the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery went online this year, the Nigerian government have announced the operation ability of two refineries out of the four structures.

The other two include the new Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State, and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.