With the re-streaming of the crude distillation unit at the plant, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited claims to have revitalized the Warri Refinery.
It stated that Monday’s re-streaming of the CDU signaled the commencement of the refinery’s phased start-up after its successful repair.
By the end of 2024, the national oil firm claimed to have fulfilled its pledge to revitalize the Warri Refinery.
Chu Efifia, managing director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company, said the CDU was successfully re-streamed during a visit of the Warri Refinery Complex in Ekpan, Delta.
According to Mr. Effia, the factory has started producing petroleum products such low-pour fuel oil, diesel, domestic kerosene, and naphtha.
The managing director provided additional information regarding the refinery’s production status, stating that it was currently processing 75,000 barrels per day, or 60% of its installed capacity.
2.9 million liters of diesel, 1.9 million liters of kerosene, and 4.9 million liters of fuel oil were currently produced at the factory, he noted. He went on to say that when more refinery units come up in the coming days, gasoline production will follow.
Mele Kyari, the head of NNPC, emphasized its importance by stating that it marked the start of Nigeria’s transition to a net producer and exporter of refined petroleum products.
Nigeria would soon stop importing petroleum products and turn into a net exporter, according to Pius Akinyelure, the chairman of the NNPC board of directors, who also expressed delight with the progress.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s chief executive officer, Farouk Ahmed, predicted that the market will become more competitive as new refineries came online.
According to him, Nigerians would gain from this as it would drive down the pump price of petroleum goods.
The Warri Refinery, with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, was put into service in 1978.
In 2021, it was closed for rehabilitation, and Daewoo Engineering served as the EPC contractor.
