The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited claims that in only one week, it seized 63 illicit refineries as part of a crackdown on some oil thieves’ operations.
The NNPC disclosed in its weekly program “Energy and YOU” that 63 refineries were seized as a result of its efforts to combat oil theft.
The state-owned oil corporation reports that several event sources documented around 177 incidents between August 3 and August 9.
Tantita Security Services documented four cases; Maton Engineering Company reported 20, Shell Petroleum Development Company reported 11, and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited reported 26.
The government security agencies reported 64 cases, the state-owned oil firm, through NNPC 18 Operating Ltd, documented one, and the NNPC Command and Control Centre, 51.
The NNPC reports that during the week under review, 19 illegal pipeline connections were found, and some of them underwent repairs at various places in Bayelsa and River States.
“A vandalized barricaded oil wellhead was discovered in Bayelsa State, and 63 illegal refineries were discovered and confiscated in the states of Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta.”
Additionally, the state-owned company reported that 17 vehicle arrests were made in villages in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States after stolen crude was found in oil reservoirs in Rivers State.
The NNPC also revealed that 15 wooden boats that were transporting stolen oil were seized in the states of Rivers and Bayelsa. Of those incidences, 51 occurred in the deep blue sea, 21 in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region.
The NNPC reported that in the last week alone, no fewer than sixteen people had been taken into custody about the occurrences.
The development of the crude oil industry in the West African nation has been severely hampered by oil theft. For background, the National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu claimed in 2023 that theft cost the nation 400,000 barrels per day (bpd).
According to former State Minister for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva, Nigeria lost at least 700,000 barrels per day to thieves in 2022. Compared to other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries like Venezuela, Iraq, Mexico, and Malaysia that are afflicted with oil theft, this is significantly greater.
Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings, the parent business of Heirs Energies, stated earlier in the month that Nigerian security services and the government ought to be able to identify those who steal the nation’s crude oil, particularly when those thieves use vessels that pass through its territorial waters.
He claims that the threat has aided in the foreign oil firms’ withdrawal from Nigeria.
He stated that “42,000 barrels of crude are pumped out every day. Theft continues to take away approximately 18% of productivity.”
