Nigeria's 125,000 b/d Warri refinery to restart soon after fire

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Wednesday said it hopes to restart the 125,000 b/d Warri refinery, shutdown on Tuesday after a fire broke out at a production unit.

Warri Refinery

"The fire was promptly brought under control. Preparations are under way for re-streaming of the affected unit," NNPC spokeswoman Tumini Green said.
 Nigerian militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, Tuesday claimed responsibility for the fire, saying it was part of its renewed violence against the Nigerian oil industry codenamed "Hurricane Exodus."
But Green said the exact cause of the fire was being investigated, adding that NNPC would take appropriate steps to forestall future occurrence.
The refinery, one of the four state-owned refineries, was operating at about 65% of its capacity before the fire.
The local Tribune newspaper reported Wednesday that that at least 10 refinery workers died in the incident and others suffered serious burns.
The NNPC spokeswoman however denied there was any fatality, adding that the fire at the refinery was minor.
Earlier this year, NNPC announced plans to carry out maintenance at the site in the fourth quarter.
Nigeria has four state-owned refineries, but they operate far below their nameplate capacity of 445,000 b/d, due to years of neglect.