The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the discovery and confiscation of 63 additional illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region over the past week.
This revelation was made in a recent documentary highlighting the company’s ongoing efforts to combat oil theft. The NNPCL reported that the illegal refineries were located in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta States.
Between August 3 and 9, 2024, security forces, including Tantita Security Services and other agencies, recorded approximately 177 incidents of oil theft.
During this period, 19 illegal pipeline connections were identified and repaired in several locations within Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Additionally, a barricaded oil wellhead was found in Bayelsa State, while stolen crude was detected in reservoirs in Rivers State.
The company also reported that 17 vehicles involved in transporting stolen crude were apprehended in communities across Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
Furthermore, 15 wooden boats carrying stolen crude were seized in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
NNPCL detailed that out of the 177 incidents, 51 occurred in deep blue waters, 21 in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region.
Earlier, in June, NNPCL uncovered 165 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, highlighting the ongoing struggle against oil theft, which continues to deplete Nigeria’s revenue.
In July, the country’s crude oil production stood at 1.3 million barrels per day, falling short of the 1.5 million barrels per day quota set by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, has urged the military to maintain its efforts in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
