Navy Dismantles Nine Illegal Refining Sites
The Nigerian Navy has reported the destruction of nine illegal refining sites and the recovery of stolen products in August 2024. This operation was part of the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity, initiated by Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla in January 2024 to combat oil theft and enhance production.
According to Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information at Naval Headquarters, the operation has significantly contributed to increasing oil production to 1.658 million barrels per day (mbpd).
Key activities during August included:
– On August 9, Navy personnel dismantled an illegal refinery, five metal drums, and various pipes in the Dumbe camp and Atuo general area of Bayelsa State.
– On August 12, a site in the Ataba community, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, was destroyed.
– On August 14, the Navy targeted the Brass, Bassambari, and Nembe areas of Bayelsa State, destroying three illegal refining sites, three wooden boats, and seizing large quantities of illegally refined AGO.
– On August 17, four wooden boats and one speed boat used for smuggling stolen products were destroyed along the Odioma/Botokiri Creek in Bayelsa State.
– On the same day, another illegal refinery site, along with two cooking pots, multiple storage tanks, and dug-out pits, was dismantled in the Ekwoke, Sobiekiri, and Ataba areas of the Bonny Channel in Rivers State.
– Additionally, a large illegal refinery site with a capacity of two million liters per day was destroyed along the Ogoloma-Bakana waterways in
Rivers State.
