Kunle Kalejaye 04 September 2015, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has given the management of Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company, WRPC, a 90 days ultimatum to commenced full production at the facility.
Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who gave the ultimatum at the end of a facility tour of the refinery and the adjoining Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Jetty and Depot in Warri, Delta State, charged the management and staff of the company to ensure that the plant is brought back to operation within the projected period. The Warri refinery has 125,000 barrels per day of crude oil processing capacity.
The GMD noted that he was ready to provide the management of the facility necessary support to enable them meet the fast track target.
“So whatever you need to do to get your refinery back on track, please do it now because this is the time. It’s a 90 days fast-track programme and whatever you need me to do to make that happen, let me know,’’ the GMD assured.
Dr. Kachikwu also enjoined the management of the plant to resuscitate the petrochemicals arm of the company, which was commissioned in March 1988.
On the state of PPMC storage facility, Dr. Kachikwu promised to end the era where the company relied heavily on private depots to store a bulk of its petroleum products.
Responding to the ultimatum, the Acting Managing Director of WRPC, Engr. Solomon Ladenegan, pledged that measures have been put in place to ensure that the plant is back in full operation by early November in good time for the three months fast track moratorium.
The 37-year old refinery which has been undergoing phased rehabilitation exercise was shut last week due to some technical hitches in one of its units.