Breaking: NNPCL Reports Discovery Of 122-Illegal Oil Refining Sites In Niger-Delta

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reported the discovery of 122 illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta region over the past week. Additionally, a filling station in Akwa Ibom State was shut down for selling illegally refined fuel to motorists….CONTINUE READING

According to Ireporteronline, NNPCL disclosed these details in a recent documentary released to the public, revealing that 65 illegal pipeline connections were dismantled in Rivers and other states in the Niger Delta within the same period.

Between May 18 and 24, a total of 310 incidents were documented in the Niger Delta region, highlighting NNPCL’s ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and vandalism. Another illicit fuel-selling filling station was located at Grey Creek in Akwa Ibom State.

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The 122 illegal refineries were identified at various locations, including Tomble II, III, IV, Umuajuloke in Rivers State, and Oporomor III, Eduwini, and Ajatiton in Bayelsa State. Additionally, vandalized wellheads and a pit filled with crude oil from one of the vandalized wellheads were found in Tomble IV, Rivers State, and Egbema in Imo State.

NNPCL also reported the discovery of five illegal storage sites where oil was stored in sacks, pits, cans, and at a filling station. Twenty vehicles, including a tanker, were confiscated in Delta and Imo states, while 29 boats transporting crude oil or illegally refined products were seized in various creeks in Bayelsa and Delta states. Furthermore, 33 suspects have been apprehended in connection with these incidents.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, emphasized the importance of addressing insecurity in the oil and gas sector to boost production levels, as the nation continues to experience a decline in crude oil

production due to oil theft and vandalism.

“How do you increase oil production? Remove the security challenge we have in our onshore assets. 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.

“No one is going to put money into oil production when he knows the production will not get to the market. Within the last two years, we removed over 5,800 illegal connections from our pipelines. We took down over 6,000 illegal refineries. You simply cannot get people to put money until you solve that problem,” he stated.

Published By: Destiny.Jnr