The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has announced date for the completion of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the NNPCL said the mechanical completion of the WRPC will be completed within the first quarter of 2024.
The WRPC, sited in Warri, Delta State was established in 1978 and remains one of Nigeria’s three refineries under the management of NNPCL.
Ohers are the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State, and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State.
According to the NNPCL, rehabilitation work is simultaneously ongoing at both facilities.
Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, told Punch that the company has set a target to complete rehabilitation of the Warri Refinery in the first quarter of this year.
“Warri should be done by Q1 (first quarter) 2024,” he stated.
“We’ve successfully completed the mechanical phase of the PH (Port Harcourt) refinery Area-5 plant, installing all vital components. Licensor inspection has been done, and catalysts delivered.
“Now, industry-based testing remains, focusing on leaks, air, line blowing, flushing, drying, steam out, calibration, plant inerting, and then hydrocarbon introduction.
“While we share the optimism, adherence to global best practices is crucial. Testing will conclude shortly, ensuring the refinery’s efficient operation. Production should commence shortly,” the NNPCL spokesperson added.
This is sequel to the stance of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, who stated on Wednesday that the Warri refinery was undergoing work.
Lokpobiri stated this while fielding questions about the Port Harcourt Refinery, whose mechanical completion was widely celebrated on December 21, 2023 by the Federal Government.
According to Lokpobiri, “These were projects that are very fundamental to our survival economically, and I believe that very soon products will start coming from there. But there are several components in these gigantic structures that will take time mechanically to finalise for products to start coming.
“Recall that the Dangote refinery was commissioned by the Buhari administration but they haven’t started releasing products because it takes time. So I believe that the Port Harcourt refinery will soon come and the Warri refinery is in top gear,” the minister had stated.
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