The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced a temporary shutdown of operations at the recently re-streamed Warri Refinery to facilitate routine maintenance.
The company assured the public that the facility would resume operations shortly.
Clarification on Explosion Reports
In a statement released on Friday, NNPC’s Chief Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, addressed circulating reports of an explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), describing them as entirely unfounded. He emphasized that the shutdown was a planned measure for maintenance and not due to any emergency incident.
Routine Maintenance for Operational Efficiency
Providing further details, Soneye explained that the refinery’s Area 1 unit was deliberately taken offline on January 25, 2025, to allow for crucial interventions on specific equipment. These maintenance efforts are aimed at ensuring the refinery operates efficiently and sustainably.
“These maintenance activities are necessary to guarantee the production of high-quality refined petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene,” the statement noted.
Despite the temporary halt in certain operations, NNPC confirmed that diesel (AGO) distribution remains ongoing, with an average of eight trucks being loaded daily. This ensures continued supply to support transportation and industrial activities.
“The scheduled maintenance is progressing as planned, and we expect Area 1 to resume operations in the coming days,” Soneye reassured. “NNPC Ltd remains committed to ensuring a stable supply of petroleum products and appreciates the patience and support of all stakeholders during this essential process.”
Warri Refinery’s Rehabilitation Journey
The Warri Refinery, which has a processing capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, was restarted in late 2024 after being inactive for over a decade. Following extensive rehabilitation, NNPC announced that the facility had resumed operations at 60% capacity.
As part of the government’s broader plan to revive Nigeria’s refining sector, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a $1.48 billion budget in August 2021 for the rehabilitation of both the Warri and Kaduna refineries. The investment is part of an effort to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined products and strengthen local refining capacity.
NNPC’s latest update aims to reassure the public of its commitment to sustaining petroleum product availability while ensuring the long-term reliability of the Warri Refinery through necessary upgrades and maintenance activities.
