President Tinubu Celebrates Warri Refinery Reopening

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the reopening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).

In a statement on Saturday, December 30, 2024, the President hailed the development as a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s energy sector and an affirmation of his administration’s commitment to restoring national pride through functional refineries.

“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 said.

The Warri Refinery, which had been dormant for several years, resumed operations at 60% capacity, producing up to 125,000 barrels per day (bpd). This comes weeks after the successful restart of 60,000 bpd production at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.

A Boost for Local Refining Capacity

President Tinubu underscored the importance of reviving Nigeria’s refining infrastructure to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and position the country as a leader in downstream industrial activities. He expressed optimism that the reopening of the Warri Refinery would further bolster Nigerians’ trust in his administration’s energy policies.

The President extended his congratulations to NNPCL Group CEO Mele Kyari and his team for their dedication to restoring Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

“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,” he said.

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Accelerating Repairs on Other Refineries

While celebrating the reopening of the Warri Refinery, President Tinubu directed NNPCL to expedite ongoing repair works on the Kaduna Refinery and the second Port Harcourt Refinery, which has a capacity of 150,000 bpd. He emphasized the need to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider by ensuring all four state-owned refineries operate at optimal capacity.

The President also acknowledged the groundwork laid by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration had awarded contracts for the complete rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.

A Stronger Future for Nigeria

Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing a comprehensive energy plan that guarantees security, efficiency, and sustainability.

“With the 125,000 bpd Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, our comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security is entirely on course,” the statement by the President reads in part.