Oil marketers have confirmed that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) has resumed operations, and they are now loading diesel (Automotive Gas Oil) and kerosene (Dual Purpose Kerosene) from the facility. However, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, is yet to be produced.
The WRPC, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), restarted operations on 30 December 2024, as announced by NNPCL Group CEO Mele Kyari during a tour of the plant.
Speaking about the development, Harry Okenini, Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said the refinery is operational but not fully functional.
“The refinery is working, but only one unit is operational at the moment, producing diesel and kerosene. There is no production of petrol yet. We are hopeful that by February, the refinery will start producing cooking gas, PMS, and other products,” Okenini explained.
Similarly, the National Chairman of the Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers branch of NUPENG, Israel Omokere, confirmed that diesel and kerosene are being loaded from the refinery. “We are optimistic that PMS production will begin soon,” he said.
Kingsley Erituoyo, Delta State Chairman of Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers (NUPENG), praised the refinery’s reopening after years of inactivity. “For years, the refinery was not working, but now it is back in operation,” he remarked.
Limited Activity at the Refinery
A visit to the WRPC complex revealed limited truck movements compared to the refinery’s peak operational periods. Sources inside the refinery disclosed that only one of its three units is currently functional.
The working unit produces diesel, kerosene, and gas, but petrol production requires the second unit to be operational. According to a source, “If all units were working, the refinery could load over 100 trucks daily. For now, it’s loading about 50 trucks.”
Security personnel at the refinery’s entrance prevented journalists from taking photos, but insiders noted that significant upgrades are needed before full production can be achieved.
Industry experts have urged the Federal Government and the NNPCL to accelerate efforts to restore the refinery’s full functionality and expand its production capacity.
