The spirited efforts by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to find a lasting solution to the fuel supply and distribution challenges in the country received an extra fillip on Thursday with the cheering news that the Kaduna and Warri Refineries and Petrochemical Companies have commenced production of petroleum products.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation Dr. Levi Ajuonuma revealed that the Kaduna refinery fully came on stream on Friday the 19th of February, 2010.

Two weeks earlier the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC came on stream after the re-commissioning of its vital units.

Dr. Ajuonuma further disclosed that the Kaduna refinery presently produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO).

“I am glad to announce to Nigerians that the Turn Around Maintenance of refineries embarked upon by the NNPC is beginning to pay off as the Kaduna refinery fully came on stream last Friday and has stabilized at 60 per cent capacity,”Dr. Ajuonuma declared.

He also noted that all the primary units of the Kaduna refinery are back on stream adding that this would go a long way in reducing importation of petroleum products into the country by the Corporation and other importers.

Dr. Ajuonuma expressed optimism that with the refineries now back on stream, the challenge of fuel queues noticed in some states of the federation would soon become a thing of the past.

According to him, “Already the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of the Corporation has begun the evacuation and marketing of the petroleum products from the revamped refineries.”

He maintained that in line with the transformation programme of the NNPC, all the refineries would be made to work as a truly commercial entity to avoid a relapse in line with the determination of the management of the Corporation to transform it from a cost centre to a profit making entity.

The NNPC spokesman called on the organized labour and Nigerians to support the Federal Government deregulation agenda saying that is the only way out of the recurring fuel supply challenge in the country.