By Patrick Idowu
The Nigerian National Petroleum of Company Limited (NNPCL), has announced that the Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), with a refining capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, is now operational.
This was disclosed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, during a facility tour on Monday.
While addressing the team before the tour, Kyari emphasized the progress made at the facility despite ongoing work.
“This plant is running. Although it is not 100% complete, we are still in the process.
“Many people think real things are not possible in this country, but we want you to see that this is real,” he said.
The tour team included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Delta State, the WRPC produces 13,000 Metric Tons per Annum (MTA), of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black. Originally commissioned in 1978, the refinery was built to supply petroleum products to markets in Nigeria’s south and southwest regions.
The refinery’s full mechanical completion was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, as confirmed by NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye.
The resumption of operations at the WRPC follows the commencement of crude refining at the old Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State.
