NNPC Breaks Silence: The Sh*cking Reason Behind Warri Refinery Shutdown

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced a temporary shutdown of operations at the recently reactivated Warri Refinery for routine maintenance, assuring the public that the facility will resume operations shortly.

In a statement released on Friday by Chief Communications Officer Olufemi Soneye, the company dismissed rumors of an explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), labeling such claims as “completely false.”

Soneye clarified that operations at WRPC Area 1 were deliberately halted on January 25, 2025, to conduct intervention works on specific equipment critical to maintaining steady and sustainable refinery operations.

“These intervention activities are necessary to ensure the production of quality, on-specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene (Kero),” the statement read.

Despite the maintenance, the company confirmed that AGO (diesel) loading is ongoing, averaging eight trucks per day to ensure a continuous supply for trucking operations.

“The routine maintenance is proceeding as scheduled, and Area 1 is expected to be back online in the next few days.

“NNPC Ltd remains dedicated to ensuring an uninterrupted product supply and appreciates the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders during this essential maintenance period,” Soneye added.

Warri Refinery Rehabilitation

The 125,000 barrels-per-day Warri Refinery was brought back online just before the New Year after being inactive for over a decade. NNPC had previously reported that the refinery was operating at 60% capacity following extensive rehabilitation.

In August 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved $1.48 billion for the rehabilitation of both the Warri and Kaduna refineries as part of broader efforts to restore Nigeria’s local refining capacity.

With this latest update, NNPC seeks to ease public concerns and reaffirm its commitment to maintaining stable petroleum product supplies amid ongoing refinery upgrades.