NNPCL Uncovers 134 Illegal Refineries in One Week

NNPCL Uncovers 134 Illegal Refineries in One Week

By Lucinda Achere

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) uncovered 134 illegal refineries that were destroyed in seven days.

The NNPC also stated that 63 illegal pipeline connections were uncovered during the period.

In a visual report, the NNPC stated that at about 2 am on Sunday, a joint team of security agents discovered a large wooden boat illicitly loading stolen crude oil from Barge AGS01 within the OML 18 operating area.

It noted that based on credible intelligence, the large wooden boat was caught receiving crude oil from the barge.

According to the state-owned oil firm, while the barge was towed away with a tugboat in custody, five speedboats used in towing the large wooden boat to the illegal loading site were also detained and the particulars of the tugboats and barge used for the operation were reportedly seized for further investigation.

It added that in Rivers State, two barges involved in illegal bunkering activities were also seized and the crew members were arrested.

Also, wooden boats transporting stolen crude oil were said to have been confiscated in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa State and Abia States.

It was stated that the 63 illegal connections were uncovered in critical locations throughout the Niger Delta.

In Bayelsa and Abia States, repairs were swiftly executed on pipelines while illegal connections were detected and removed.

The NNPCL disclosed that it was not just the pipelines that were under the siege of vandals and oil thieves, saying that across the swamps and waterways, illegal refineries sprawling toxic sites of crude oil refining were destroyed in states like Rivers, Abia and Bayelsa.

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The company described illegal refineries as shadowy operations that pollute the environment, and bleed the economy dry.

In Rivers State, authorities uncovered secret storage locations, while in Bayelsa State, crude meant for the black market was seized.

Law enforcement agencies also intercepted a vehicle filled with stolen crude oil packed in jerry cans; the driver was apprehended.

It said that 48 of those incidents took place in the deep blue water, 81 in the central region, 134 in the eastern region and 39 in the western region.

25 suspects were arrested and handed over to government security agencies for further investigation.

“Between August 31 and September 6, 2024, a total of 302 incidents were identified across various locations in the Niger Delta from several incident sources like Tantita Security Services, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Company, Heirs Energies Limited, Oando PLC, NNPC Limited’s Command and Control Centre and government security agencies,” the NNPC explained.

It vowed, “There is no backing down on the war on crude oil theft until the menace is eradicated.”

The NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, said crude theft was why investors were not putting their money in the Niger Delta.