Petroleum products marketers have reportedly started loading Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and kerosene from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, while awaiting the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) – petrol.
Under the management of NNPC Limited (NNPCL), the refinery started production last Monday after the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, announced its resumption of operations during a tour of the facility.
Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Harry Okenini said on Friday that marketers have started lifting diesel and kerosene from the refinery.
He said: “Right now, there is no production of petrol. So, we are not loading PMS. We hope to load PMS soon. We can confirm to you that the plant is working although not at 100 per cent. And IPMAN, Warri depot unit, is waiting for the production of PMS so that we can load.
“For now, only the Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, and Dual Purpose Kerosene are being produced and loaded out for consumption.
“Hopefully, by February, we are expecting cooking gas, PMS, and other products to come out. As of now, the retail unit is only loading Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK),” he added.
The National Chairman of the Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers, a branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Israel Omokere, confirmed that the refinery is in operation.
He said: “Hopefully the PMS will come on board. We are loading kerosene and AGO for now.”
However, reports said there was scanty movement of trucks in and out of the refinery at the weekend.
Reports quoting industry sources said there is more to be put in place by the Federal government and the NNPCL for the refinery to commence full production of petrol
Sources inside the refinery, according to further reports, said only one of three units of the refinery is functional and producing diesel, gas, and kerosene.
A source said: “For now, only one unit is working at the refinery. You know there are three units; but only one is in operation, producing diesel, gas, and kerosene.
“The unit can’t give fuel for now. If the second unit starts working, it can produce PMS. It is the last unit to operate because it’s very big and complicated.
“If all units are working, we can load over 100 trucks daily, now it loaded about 50 trucks.”