The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Friday, February 7, 2025, refuted reports of a fire incident (explosion) at the restarted Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), located in Delta State.
Reacting to the insinuating reportage, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPCL, who explained this in a statement, said the Management intentionally curtailed operations at WRPC Area 1 in order to effect necessary intervention works on select equipment in the oil-refining facility.
Soneye stated: “NNPC Limited wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).
“Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.”
He further noted: ‘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 on-specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene (Kero).”
The state oil company maintained that the routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and Area 1 would be back in operation within the next few days.
The NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer averred: “Despite 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.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted product supply and appreciates the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders as it completes these essential maintenance activities.”