The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) has announced its intent to engage reputable and credible Operations and Maintenance (O&M) companies to take over the operations and maintenance of two of its major refineries, the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).
The company made this disclosure in an official statement released on Friday through its verified X handle.
According to the statement, this move is part of NNPC Limited’s strategy to ensure the optimal performance of its refining assets and to meet Nigeria’s growing demand for petroleum products.
The Warri Refinery, located in Warri, Delta State, was commissioned in 1978. Described as a complex conversion refinery, Warri boasts a nameplate distillation capacity of 6,250,000 metric tons per annum (MTA), equivalent to 125,000 barrels per day (BPD). The refinery complex also houses a petrochemical plant, which was commissioned in 1988, with production capacities of 13,000 MTA of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black. The refinery is strategically positioned to supply petroleum products to markets in the southern and southwestern regions of Nigeria.
Similarly, the Kaduna Refinery, commissioned in 1980, was initially designed to supply petroleum products to Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 BPD. The refinery underwent an expansion in 1983, which added a second 50,000 BPD crude train dedicated to the production of lubricating oils (lubes). By 1986, the capacity of the first crude train was expanded to 60,000 BPD, bringing the refinery’s current nameplate capacity to 110,000 BPD.
NNPC Limited emphasized the importance of selecting O&M companies with the necessary technical expertise and a proven track record to ensure the sustainability and profitability of the refineries.
This latest development underscores NNPC Limited’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s refining capacity and reducing the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum products. The move is expected to attract significant interest from both local and international companies with expertise in refinery operations and maintenance.
As the process unfolds, industry stakeholders will be keenly watching to see which companies emerge as partners in this critical phase of Nigeria’s energy sector.