By Straightnews
Arise TV personality, Rufai Oseni, has expressed doubt at the announcement of the resumption of refinery activities at the Warri Refinery in Nigeria’s Delta State.
NNPC boss, Mele Kyari, announced this on Monday, December 30, 2024.
Reacting to the news, Rufai wrote in his X handle ‘’Until when the catalytic cracking unit of PH and Warri refinery starts to work then I will take the NNPC seriously. I don’t celebrate half measures.”
NNPCL plays old fox game?
This came after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was seen to have played old fox game by telling the world that Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) has commenced partial production, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s quest for functional local refineries.
Also read: How NNPCL Deceived Nigerians on Port Harcourt Refinery- Groups allege
The refinery, inactive since 2015 due to prolonged repairs, reportedly began refining activities last Saturday at its Area 1 plant, where crude oil was successfully pumped into the system.
This was coming about a month after the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.
The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, announced the resumption of operation at the Warri Refinery during a tour of the facility on Monday.
Kyari was seen in a video posted by Channels TV addressing a tour team, which included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.
Earlier, Kyarihad explained that the inspection aimed to show Nigerians the level of work completed so far.
He said though the repairs on the facility were not 100 per cent complete, operations had commenced.
NNPCL boss said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”
Tinubu inured by NNPCL’s mind game?
As usual, President Bola Tinubu appeared to have been inured by the NNPCL’s mind game by expressing his profound joy at the re-opening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) describing it as another remarkable achievement in 2024 that has strengthened Nigerians’ hope in his administration.
Presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, confirmed Monday that the Warri Refinery returned to operation weeks after NNPC Limited restarted the 60,000 Barrels per day at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.
He added that, with Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) going into operation after several years of inactivity, President Tinubu has once again expressed his administration’s determination to ramp up local refining capacity and make Nigeria a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa.
The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation and overhaul of the four state-owned refineries.
President Tinubu noted with confidence that with the 125,000 barrel per day, Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security is entirely on course.
He praised the Mele Kyari-led management of the NNPCL for working hard to restore Nigeria’s glory and pride as a major oil-producing country.
Tinubu enjoined NNPCL to accelerate repair work on Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 (bpd) second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider.
