The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) is currently awaiting the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reopen its portal, enabling them to lift petroleum products from the Warri Refinery. The refinery, with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, resumed operations and product loading about a month ago after extensive rehabilitation. However, it was recently shut down for routine maintenance, with NNPCL assuring that it would resume operations shortly.
Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, President of PETROAN, stated, “We have an allocation to lift from Warri Refinery. We were lifting from there before. We are waiting for the NNPCL to open its portal so we can continue lifting.” He emphasized their readiness to resume lifting products once the portal is reopened.
In a related development, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has begun lifting products from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery through MRS in Warri and Calabar. Alhaji Maigandi Garima, National President of IPMAN, noted, “Our members lift Dangote Petroleum Refinery products through MRS from Warri and Calabar. Hopefully, we will start lifting from Port Harcourt Refinery this week. As for the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries, we are waiting for NNPCL to start loading to our marketers.”
He further mentioned that many members have shifted their patronage to the Dangote/MRS arrangement, moving away from traditional tank farm owners. “It’s only marketers that are yet to complete their registration with the MRS arrangement that buy from depots,” he added.
NNPCL’s Chief Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, was unavailable for comments. However, in a recent statement, he clarified that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), describing such reports as “completely false.”
He explained, “On January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were intentionally curtailed to carry out necessary intervention works on select equipment, including field instruments that were impacting sustainable and steady operations. These intervention works are essential to ensure the production of finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene (Kero).”
Soneye assured that the routine maintenance is progressing as planned and that Area 1 will be back in operation within the next few days. Despite the ongoing interventions, over the past 11 days, AGO loading has been maintained at an average of eight trucks per day, with a sufficient supply available to sustain ongoing truck load-out operations.
He concluded by reaffirming NNPCL’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted product supply and appreciating the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders during these essential maintenance activities.
The resumption of operations at the Warri Refinery is eagerly anticipated by stakeholders, as it is expected to enhance the distribution of petroleum products across the country.