The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shut down the Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively, two of the nation’s four refineries.
This is due to militant attack on its gas pipeline facilities in the Niger- Delta.
Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, yesterday confirmed that the NNPC has shut down crude oil flows to the two pipelines due to the recent attacks on the facilities.
“We have shut down flows for now, the military are on top of the matter,” he said.
Last weekend, unidentified gunmen bombed some oil and gas facilities in Gbaramatu, allegedly in protest over the reported arrest warrant issued on the former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a Tompolo). No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Tompolo had also claimed ignorance of the attack.
Kaduna Refinery had resumed production last December producing 110bpd of crude, while the Warri Refinery which resumed production in November, produces 125,000 bpd.
Alegbe said He said the NNPC will continue to monitor the progress of the refineries and the Nigeria Gas Company and update the public at the appropriate time.
Basically, the implication of this development falls mainly on power generating companies (GENCOs). There will not be sufficient use of gas to generate power in the country for now.
Nigeria will also fall back more on importing more Premium Motor Spirits(PMS) to cover up for the shortfall on these closures.
