The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reported significant progress in its fight against crude oil theft, revealing the discovery of 165 illegal refineries across the Niger Delta in the past week.
This development was documented between June 15 and 21 and disclosed through an NNPCL documentary seen by Channels Television.
Illegal Refineries: A total of 165 illegal refineries were uncovered in various locations, with 69 found and dismantled in the swamps of Okrika, Rivers State. Similar sites were discovered in Abia and Bayelsa States.
Illegal Connections and Oil Spills: NNPCL reported 69 illegal pipeline connections discovered and disconnected in Bayelsa and Rivers States. Additionally, eight cases of oil spills resulting from vandalism or illegal connections were recorded.
Illegal Storage and Loading Points: The company identified 19 illegal storage sites filled with stolen crude and refined products in Delta, Imo, Rivers, Abia, and Bayelsa States. An illegal loading point was also discovered in Warri, Delta State.
Seizures and Arrests: Eleven vehicles and 39 boats used for transporting stolen crude were seized in Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States. Eight individuals were arrested in connection with these illegal activities.
This crackdown comes amid Nigeria’s struggle with declining crude oil production and the inability to meet its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day. NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, emphasized the critical need to address security challenges in the oil and gas sector to stabilize production.
Kyari highlighted the broader implications of oil theft and vandalism on Nigeria’s oil industry, stating, “How do you increase oil production? Remove the security challenge we have in our onshore assets.
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As we all know, the security challenge is real. It is not just about theft; it is about the availability of the infrastructure to deliver the volume to the market.”
He further noted that within the last two years, NNPCL had removed over 5,800 illegal connections from pipelines and dismantled over 6,000 illegal refineries, underscoring the extensive efforts required to combat this issue.
The discovery of these illegal refineries and ongoing efforts to dismantle them demonstrate NNPCL’s commitment to addressing crude oil theft and ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
However, the persistent security challenges highlight the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between government and private security agencies to safeguard the nation’s valuable resources.
