The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi has said that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mele Kyari is positioning Nigeria to be a self-reliant and globally competitive player in the petroleum space with restreaming of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries in about a month.
Abdullahi who is the Member Representing Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, made the remark as part of reaction to the restart of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company on Monday, October 30, 2024.
The state-owned energy giant, NNPC Limited announced the resumption of the 60,000 Barrels per day refinery in Warri.
The development comes barely a month after 210,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt Refinery began trucking out of products.
The Warri Refinery is designed to produce and store Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha.
The Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) of the refinery restarted on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 12:25 PM.
Reacting, the House Committee Deputy Chairman on Downstream expressed delight on the successful reopening of the Warri Refinery.
Abdullahi said, “This outstanding achievement highlights the diligence, dedication, and strategic foresight of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under your exemplary leadership.”
The lawmaker attributed the restreaming of two formerly moribund refineries to the efforts of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari.
According to Abdullahi, “Revitalising critical infrastructure within our oil and gas sector is no small feat, and the reopening of this refinery is a testament to your commitment to ensuring Nigeria’s energy sufficiency and industrial growth.
“It is inspiring to see such tireless efforts bearing fruit, laying the foundation for a more robust and sustainable petroleum industry. Your team’s hard work to restore our nation’s refining capacity is truly commendable.”
He said Kyari is positioning Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to be a global leader in the energy ecosystem.
He added, “I am confident that, with your continued leadership, NNPCL will remain on course to fully rehabilitate all remaining refineries, positioning Nigeria as a self-reliant and globally competitive player in the petroleum space.
“Congratulations once again on this significant milestone. I look forward to witnessing further successes as you work toward transforming the sector and advancing our nation’s economic development.”