Warri refinery shutdown drags on since January 25, P/Harcourt refinery struggles at under 40% production capacity
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited faces mounting scrutiny as regulatory documents confirm the Warri Refinery has been shut since January 25, 2025 – barely a month after ex-CEO Mele Kyari declared it operational. The facility, which consumed $897.6m in maintenance, failed to produce petrol before its Crude Distillation Unit heater developed critical safety defects. Meanwhile, the Port Harcourt refinery operates below 40% capacity despite November 2024 recommissioning, exposing gaps in NNPC’s revitalization claims.
Kyari had earlier defended the project: “Many think real things aren’t possible here… We proved this plant can restart.” However, the NMDPRA report contradicts NNPC’s narrative, revealing both refineries underdelivering amid Nigeria’s persistent fuel crisis. Industry operators describe the developments as “disheartening” for Africa’s largest oil producer.