The Nigerian National Petroleum Co. Ltd (NNPCL) announced on February 10 that the recently re-opened 125,000 barrel per day (bpd) Warri refinery had been closed for routine maintenance.

The company continue to say that the closure would be temporary, and that normal operations would resume once maintenance was concluded.

The unexpected closure of the plant led to some claiming that an explosion had occurred; however, the NNPCL’s chief communications officer, Olufemi Soneye, dismissed the rumours, calling them “completely false”.

He continued to clarify the remark, saying: “On January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were deliberately halted to conduct essential maintenance on select equipment, including field instruments affecting steady operations”. He continued: “These interventions are crucial to ensuring the production of on-specification finished and intermediate products, particularly petrol and kerosene”.

The official also mentioned that maintenance was progressing as anticipated, and that Area 1 of the plant would be up and running in the coming week.

Notably, Soneye highlighted that petrol loadings were still ongoing at around eight trucks per day despite the interruption.

Concluding his comments, Soneye said that the NNPCL remained “committed to uninterrupted product supply,” and “appreciates stakeholders’ patience and cooperation as maintenance is completed”.

After years of neglect the reinstatement of Warri has been a notable achievement for those working on the project, with Delta State chairman of Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers Kingsley Erituoyo expressing the relief of many when he said in January: “For so many years the refinery was down, today the refinery is up”.

Indeed, Nigeria’s severe lack of refineries has seen the country import huge amounts of refined fuels for domestic consumption, costing vast amounts of money and severely impacting the economy. It is hoped that the reinstatement of the country’s long-dormant plants will help alleviate the problems generated by the imports, while eventually providing affordable fuel for all.