The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is under fire after revelations that the $897.6 million Warri refinery has remained shut since January 25, barely a month after it was declared operational. A regulatory document cites safety issues with the Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater as the reason for the closure.
Industry experts have slammed the situation as a major failure, questioning the transparency and efficiency of the NNPCL. The development also casts doubt on the performance of the Port Harcourt refinery, which has operated below 40% capacity since its November 2024 restart, despite public claims of 70% performance.
The latest data contradicts NNPCL's earlier declarations and shows inconsistent output levels across all refined products. Stakeholders, including IPMAN and energy analysts, have demanded accountability and a state of emergency declaration for the ailing refineries.
Calls for reform grow louder amid criticism that billions spent on revamping state-owned refineries have yielded little impact on fuel availability or prices.
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