Crime

NNPCL Discovers 165 More Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 27th, 2024.

NNPCL Discovers 165 More Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta

In its ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced the discovery of an additional 165 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta last week.

A documentary by NNPCL, covering the period from June 15 to 21, highlighted around 400 incidents of oil theft and vandalism reported by government and private security agencies.

In Bayelsa and Rivers States, 69 illegal connections were identified and severed. The documentary also reported eight instances of oil spills caused by vandalism or illegal connections in the region. Additionally, an illegal loading point was discovered in Warri, Delta State.

The NNPC revealed that 69 illegal refineries were found and dismantled in the swamps of Okrika, Rivers State. Construction of an ‘oven’ for illegal refining was also halted. Similar sites were uncovered in Abia and Bayelsa States.

Furthermore, 19 illegal storage sites filled with stolen crude and illegally refined products were discovered in Delta, Imo, Rivers, Abia, and Bayelsa States. The operation also led to the seizure of 11 vehicles in Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States, and the confiscation of 39 boats transporting stolen crude in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States. Eight individuals were arrested in connection with these activities.

This crackdown comes amid declining crude oil production and Nigeria’s struggle to meet its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day. NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, emphasized the need to address security challenges in the oil and gas sector to boost production. He highlighted the impact of oil theft and vandalism on production levels, noting that over the past two years, more than 5,800 illegal connections and over 6,000 illegal refineries have been removed from pipelines.

Kyari stressed, “To increase oil production, we must resolve the security issues affecting our onshore assets. It’s not just about theft; it’s about ensuring the infrastructure can deliver the volume to the market. Investors are hesitant to invest in oil production when they know the product won’t reach the market.”