The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, has dismissed skeptics who doubt that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, can resume production.
The statement comes in connection with the commencement of partial production by the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC,.
Kyari announced the resumption of operations at the Warri Refinery during a tour of the facility yesterday.
The refinery, inactive since 2015 due to prolonged repairs, reportedly began refining activities last Saturday at its Area 1 plant, where crude oil was successfully pumped into the system.
Kyari, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, declared that they would prove the doubters wrong.
Earlier, Kyari explained that the inspection was to show Nigerians the progress made so far.
He said that although repairs on the facility were not yet 100 percent complete, operations had already commenced.
“We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 percent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real,” he stated.
The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comrade Isaac Agbateyiniro, expressed delight following reports that the WRPC has been resuscitated by the NNPCL.
In his reaction, the LG Chairman described the development as reassuring, stating that the task of resetting the nation’s economy on a progressive path is on course.
He urged all stakeholders, including the people of the host and surrounding communities, to sustain the enabling environment for WRPC to compete favorably with its contemporaries.
While commending the management of NNPCL for the achievement, Agbateyiniro encouraged the company not to rest on its laurels until WRPC operates at its fullest capacity.
