Nigeria has announced the partial resumption of operations at its Warri oil refinery after nearly ten years of inactivity, marking a crucial step in the nation’s efforts to revive its ailing energy sector. The 125,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery, which had been out of service since 2015 due to technical issues and crude oil shortages, is now operating at 60% capacity, according to government officials.
This development is a significant milestone for the government’s ongoing campaign to revitalize Nigeria’s state-owned refineries. These facilities have long been plagued by inefficiency, forcing the country—Africa’s largest oil producer—to rely heavily on imported fuel to meet domestic demand, draining foreign reserves in the process.
Mele Kyari, the managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), confirmed the partial restart during an inspection of the Warri refinery. “The plant is operational, but we are not yet at full capacity,” Kyari stated, underscoring that while operations have resumed, the refinery is still in the process of scaling up to full production.
The partial reopening of the Warri refinery is part of Nigeria’s broader plan to enhance its domestic refining capabilities and reduce reliance on costly fuel imports. This initiative comes on the heels of the inauguration of a new private refinery in Lagos by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. The Dangote refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has further increased Nigeria’s refining capacity, offering a significant boost to the nation’s energy sector.
As part of its strategy, the Nigerian government aims to restore all four state-owned refineries, including the 110,000 bpd Kaduna refinery and several other units located in the Niger Delta. The revitalization of these refineries is seen as essential for Nigeria’s economic recovery, as it would help the country achieve greater self-sufficiency in fuel production and reduce its dependence on fuel imports.
In addition to the Warri refinery’s partial reopening, Nigeria has also recently reactivated the 60,000 bpd Port Harcourt refinery. While the process of fully restoring all state-owned refineries is still underway, these incremental successes offer a promising outlook for Nigeria’s refining sector. With continued investment and improvements, the country hopes to enhance its refining capacity, reduce fuel import costs, and strengthen its economic resilience.
