By John Ikani
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has raised alarm over a troubling surge in crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, spanning from September 23 to 29.
The revelation was part of the company’s weekly series, “Energy and You,” broadcasted on NTA Network News.
During this seven-day period, a total of 170 cases of crude oil theft were reported, indicating a grim situation.
The report provided a troubling breakdown of these incidents, which included 40 illegal connections, 52 illegal refineries, 15 instances of pipeline vandalism, 38 illegal storage sites, 10 wooden boat arrests, 8 vessel AIS infractions, 5 vehicle arrests, and 2 oil spill sites.
On October 1, 2023, an unsettling development emerged in Delta State, where Tantita Security Services made a startling discovery of a fully operational tissue paper manufacturing plant secretly powered by an illegal refinery concealed within a warehouse.
They also uncovered sacks containing stolen crude, revealing that vehicles capable of transporting 50 bags of crude oil were involved in supplying the stolen crude to this facility.
The stolen crude was ingeniously converted into diesel, fueling the boilers requirement to dry recycled paper into tissue paper.
The report also highlighted the prevalence of illegal refineries across various local government areas in Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Abia, and Delta States.
Disturbingly, 13 of the crude oil theft incidents occurred in the deep blue waters, 45 in the western region, 62 in the central region, and a significant 50 in the western region, painting a dire picture of the widespread issue at hand.
Crude oil theft is impacting crude oil production in the country and affecting associated gas production as well, exacerbating gas supply challenges alongside dwindling crude oil production.
However, in a positive development, Nigeria’s crude oil production had a favourable impact on OPEC crude production in September 2023, according to a Reuters survey.
The survey findings indicated that Nigeria experienced a notable increase in its export volume during September, with shipping data and credible sources confirming a substantial output increase of 110,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Remarkably, this boost was achieved without significant disruptions to shipments, despite challenges like crude oil theft and security concerns.
Reuters acknowledged this impressive development, highlighting Nigeria’s resilience in effectively managing its export activities.
Despite grappling with persistent challenges related to crude oil theft and security, the nation remains resolute in its pursuit of further recovery in the coming year, setting ambitious goals for 2024.
