The Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Warri, Delta State, with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, is now operational.

This announcement was made by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), during a facility tour on Monday.

Before the tour began, Kyari addressed the team, stating, "We are taking you through our plant. This plant is operational. Although it's not yet 100% complete, we are still in progress. Many people doubt the reality of such projects. They believe that true achievements are not possible in this country. We want you to witness that this is real."

Among the attendees was Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Located in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji, Warri, the plant produces 13,000 metric tons per annum (MTA) of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black.

The WRPC, commissioned in 1978 and operated by NNPCL, was designed to serve markets in southern and southwestern Nigeria.

While the mechanical completion of the facility was initially set for the first quarter of 2024, NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye confirmed the timeline, stating, "Warri should be fully completed by Q1 2024."

In addition to WRPC, other refineries in operation include the old and new Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company in Kaduna State. This development follows the recent start of crude refining at the old Port Harcourt Refinery.