The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has expressed its anticipation for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reopen its portal, allowing them to resume lifting petroleum products from the Warri refinery. The refinery, which has a processing capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, recently resumed operations after extensive rehabilitation but was shut down last week for routine maintenance.
PETROAN and IPMAN’s Position on Product Sourcing
Speaking in an interview, PETROAN President Dr. Billy Gillis-Harris confirmed that they have an allocation to lift products from the Warri refinery. “We were lifting from there before. We are waiting for NNPCL to open its portal so we can continue lifting,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) National President, Alhaji Maigandi Garima, highlighted a shift in sourcing trends among marketers. Many have begun lifting petroleum products from Dangote Petroleum Refinery through MRS depots in Warri and Calabar. He also mentioned that IPMAN expects to start lifting from the Port Harcourt refinery soon, once NNPCL resumes loading for marketers.
“Majority of our members have shifted loyalty to the Dangote/MRS arrangement, reducing reliance on private tank farm owners. Only those yet to complete their registration with MRS still purchase from depots,” Garima noted.
NNPCL Responds to Refinery Maintenance Concerns
Addressing concerns about the temporary shutdown of the Warri Refinery, NNPCL’s Chief Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, reassured stakeholders that there was no explosion at the facility, dismissing any reports suggesting otherwise as “completely false.”
He explained that operations at Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) Area 1 were intentionally paused on January 25, 2025, to facilitate maintenance on critical equipment. These interventions are necessary to sustain the production of key petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene (Kero).
“The routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and Area 1 will be back in operation within a few days. Despite ongoing work, we have maintained an average of eight AGO truck loadings per day, ensuring a steady supply,” Soneye stated.
NNPCL reaffirmed its commitment to uninterrupted product supply and urged stakeholders to remain patient as maintenance activities are completed. This development highlights the ongoing transition in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, with marketers diversifying supply sources to ensure product availability amid operational adjustments at state-owned refineries.
