Barely a month after announcing the commencement of operations at the 125,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Warri Refinery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed a temporary halt in operations to carry out routine maintenance.
Key Updates on Warri Refinery Shutdown:
✅ No Explosion: NNPCL has denied reports of an explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).
✅ Routine Maintenance: Operations were intentionally curtailed on January 25, 2025, to carry out intervention works on field instruments affecting steady operations.
✅ Expected Restoration: The refinery is expected to resume full operations in a few days.
✅ Product Availability: Despite the maintenance, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO - Diesel) loading has continued at an average of eight trucks per day to ensure uninterrupted supply.
NNPC’s Official Statement:
According to Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPCL, the maintenance is critical for producing on-specification refined products, including:
- Automotive Gas Oil (AGO - Diesel)
- Kerosene
- Heavy & Light Naphtha
The statement read:
“NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.
These intervention works are essential to ensure the production of quality finished and intermediate products. The routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and Area 1 of the refinery will be back in operation within the next few days.”
Background on Warri Refinery Operations
- The Warri Refinery restarted operations in December 2024, following years of inactivity.
- This comes after the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed limited production (60,000 bpd) in November 2024.
- In August 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries.
- The facility is focused on producing and storing critical petroleum products, including Diesel (AGO), Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), and other refined fuels.
Current Status of Nigeria’s Refineries
- Warri Refinery’s temporary shutdown for maintenance is part of ongoing efforts to enhance local refining capacity.
- The Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries are both supplying petroleum products, with independent marketers now loading from these facilities.
What This Means for Fuel Supply in Nigeria
📌 No fuel scarcity expected, as loading from other refineries continues.
📌 The routine maintenance ensures long-term efficiency and better product quality.
📌 NNPC remains committed to resuming operations as soon as possible.
Looking Ahead
With ongoing refinery rehabilitation projects, Nigeria is aiming to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products while enhancing local refining capacity to stabilize fuel prices. 🚀
