The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced plans to privatise the operation and maintenance of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The company made the announcement on Friday via its official X account.
The national oil company invited bids from interested private firms to take over Operations and Maintenance services for both the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
NNPCL emphasized that bidders must demonstrate extensive experience in areas such as “Product Tanks/Storage Facilities Maintenance” and the intricate processes involved in “Commissioning/Start-Up/Post Commissioning/Turnaround.”
“NNPC ltd is seeking to engage reputable and credible Operation & Maintnance (O&M) companies to operate and maintain two of its refinaries. Warri and Petrchemical Company (WRPC) and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) to ensure reliability and sustainability to meet the nation’s fuel supply andenergy security obligations,” the statement read in part.
The Warri refinery, with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, was commissioned in 1983, while the Kaduna refinery, with a 110,000 barrels per day capacity, began operations in 1980. Both facilities have struggled with consistent production over the years, an issue NNPCL aims to address through this privatization initiative.
This move aligns with NNPCL’s broader strategy, as highlighted by Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya’s recent statement setting September 2024 as the revised target for resuming commercial production at the Port Harcourt Refinery.
