President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commended the reopening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), calling it a significant achievement for Nigeria’s energy sector.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the development as a “remarkable way to end 2024,” reinforcing public confidence in his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the oil and gas industry.
The Warri Refinery, dormant for years, has resumed operations with an initial capacity of 60%.
This follows the successful restart of a 60,000 barrels-per-day facility at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November, underscoring the government’s strategy to enhance local refining capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians.
This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future that we promised,” Tinubu stated.
Under the leadership of Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been instrumental in restoring the country’s refining capabilities.
The WRPC, now producing Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and naphtha, is poised to boost Nigeria’s downstream industrial activities.
This milestone aligns with the administration’s broader vision to rehabilitate all four state-owned refineries, a process initiated during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure and accelerated under Tinubu’s directive for full rehabilitation.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to achieving energy security and positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for crude oil refining in Africa.
He also urged NNPCL to fast-track the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery and the second Port Harcourt Refinery to consolidate these gains.
“I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa,” Tinubu added.
