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Tag: WARRI REFINERY

  • Tour Invitation: You’re Disrespectful – Obasanjo

    Tour Invitation: You’re Disrespectful – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed dissatisfaction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over what he described as an informal approach to inviting him for a tour of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

     Obasanjo, who previously criticized the NNPCL’s management of the refineries, stated through his media aide that no official letter was sent to him, deeming the invitation disrespectful to his status as a former head of state.

    The issue arose after Obasanjo questioned the functionality of the refineries despite significant funds reportedly spent on rehabilitation.

    READ ALSO: FG to Continue Borrowing Despite Rise in Revenue

     NNPCL responded by inviting him to witness the progress at the facilities.

     However, Obasanjo’s camp dismissed the gesture, emphasizing the lack of formal communication.

     The matter adds to ongoing debates about the efficiency of Nigeria’s refinery management and past decisions, including a declined offer from the Dangote Group to oversee the facilities.

  • Nigerians want moribund refineries sold

    Nigerians want moribund refineries sold

    Notorious for flip flops in policy enunciation, implementation and monitoring, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has come up with a new plan to hand over its two moribund refineries in Warri and Kaduna to private maintenance operators.

    The NNPCL made the announcement via a post on its official X handle on Friday.

    This decision is not sitting well with some Nigerians and industry watchers who wonder why this is happening after the national oil company had pumped huge sums in billions of dollar during numerous rounds of Turn Around Maintenance (TAM).

    An analyst on Arise TV, Godwin Ibe advised for an outright sale of the refineries, insisting if the government still wanted to participate in its management it should retain some minimum amount of shares.

    Whereas  the Kaduna refinery with a 50,000 B/D capacity was put into service in 1980 to deliver petroleum products to Northern Nigeria. By constructing a second 50,000 B/D crude train in 1983 specifically for the production of lubricating oils (lubes), the capacity was increased to 100,000 B/D. The initial crude train’s capacity was increased to 60,000 B/D in 1986. The refinery’s current nameplate capacity is 110,000 B/D thanks to the additions.

    In 1978, the Delta State refinery at Warri came into production. The refinery is a sophisticated conversion unit with a nameplate distillation capacity of 12,55,000 bpd or 6,250,000 MTA. One of the petrochemical plants in the refinery complex was put into operation in 1988 and has the capacity to produce 18,000 MTA of carbon black and 13,000 MTA of polypropylene. The refinery is intended to supply markets in most of Southern Nigeria.