The Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta State has resumed limited operations, producing only Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Dual Purpose Kerosene, according to workers at the facility.
Despite the plant’s 125,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) capacity, it was gathered that two of its three processing units remain non-functional, hindering the production of Premium Motor Spirit (a.ka petrol), the most in-demand fuel.
NNPCL Group CEO Mele Kyari, during a recent visit to the refinery, claimed progress, though staff disclosed ongoing challenges.
The tour had also included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, and other key stakeholders.
Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen yesterday, some sources at the refinery revealed that the refinery had two plants still moribund despite the huge sums of money voted for its resuscitation, while advising the Federal Government to get to work and stop its propaganda around the facility.
“The NNPCL GCEO (Kyari) has been there since yesterday, because of some certain issues. What managed to come outside yesterday from the one plant working was Kerosene. The man has collected lots of money; so, he wants to do it before he leaves. The army has cordoned-off the place”, one of the sources said.
Explaining further, the source noted, “What will come out is AGO and Kerosene in Naphthalene. The heavy Naphtha will then be sent out, and they will crack it in mass production to get gas and PMS.
The source further said: “Like what happened at Port Harcourt Refinery recently, you cannot just start production and you start getting fuel (petrol). For PMS, you need to mix different chemicals before it can come out. The heavy Naphtha also, you cannot use it to run your vehicle, it will damage your vehicle engine because of its elements. As it is currently, what we are producing is AGO (diesel) and DPK (Dual-purpose kerosene). Why they call it dual is because we have normal kerosene and Aviation fuel.
“Only one unit is operational, producing diesel and kerosene. Petrol production requires additional processing and chemicals, which are currently unavailable”, the source explained.
The plant’s struggles mirror issues at the Port Harcourt Refinery, where critical conversion units remain idle despite substantial government investments. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has demanded transparency on the $2.9 billion allocated for refinery upgrades across the country.
Critics have accused officials of mismanagement and propaganda, noting that the Warri Refinery’s current output offers minimal relief to Nigeria’s fuel demands.
The Warri refinery is one of Nigeria’s four refineries, alongside the old and new Port-Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State, and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), in Kaduna State.
