Upstream regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said the country’s crude oil and condensate production dipped by 26,391barrels per day from 1.57 million barrels per day (mb/d) in August 2024 to 5.44mb/d.
This was contained in its crude oil production report of September 2024.
The data said in the period under review, the country produced 1.32mb/d crude oil, 57,774b/d blended condensate, and 162,223b/d unblended condensate.
The reduction in output in September may not be unconnected with the crude oil theft, vandalism, and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.
Only last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said security operatives uncovered 66 illegal crude oil refineries and 21 illegal pipeline connections in the region.
The national oil company disclosed this in its documentary titled “The War on Crude Oil Theft 21st to 27th September, 2024.”
It said: “In the past week, 21 illegal pipeline connections and 66 illegal refineries were uncovered.”
Boasting of its determination to sustain onslaught on the perpetrators, NNPCL said the war on crude oil theft is on, and the industry wide security collaboration on hydrocarbon infrastructure continues to record remarkable progress.
According to the documentary, in the week under review, a total of 172 incidents were recorded across the Niger Delta region.
These incidents, said the national oil company, were detected and reported by NNPC Command and Control Centre, NNPCL 18, Tantita Security agency, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline infrastructure Nigeria limited, Maton Engineering Ltd, and government security agencies.
NNPCL stressed that in the heart of the Nigerian Delta region, the number tells all the story of an ongoing struggle.
It revealed that 61 incidents were recorded in the central corridors, 59 in the eastern corridors,19 in the western corridors, and 33 in deep blue waters.
The crack team of security forces, said NNPCL, uncovered a web of illegal connections running deep into the heart of the Niger Delta region.
It also said from Owada in Abia State to Biseni 11, Brass and around the Okpotuani axis in Bayelsa State, these secret pipelines were shutdown one by one, and repairs were made.
NNPCL disclosed that in places like Odioma and Obiokuin Bayelsa State, security forces struck hard destroying make-shift refineries that polluted the land for far too long.
Continuing, the documentary said also, in Rivers State, illegal refineries were wiped out in Okputumbi, Bile, Nanabie, Ataba, and Ayaba town.
It added that along Bonny axis, security forces uncovered one hidden illegal storage sack, from which hidden husk of stolen crude oil were exposed in paces like Kunshu, and West Borma in Bayelsa State, Warri and Uvwie in Delta State, Ahoada, Ebocha and Emuga 2 in Rivers State.
NNPCL said each of these sites once, a haven for criminals, were dismantled and destroyed.
It further said the week also saw several oil spill that caused environmental devastation.
In Ipu South of Abia State, NNPCL disclosed that a ruptured pipeline gushed crude oil into the surrounding environment polluting the land in Rivers State.
It said yet another spill created a crude oil reservoir at Nowarad Niger pipeline, being a visual testament to the harm caused by illegal activities.
NNPCL also said on land in Ebocha and Krigani in Rivers State, Ogor and Iri in Delta State, vehicles parked with stolen crude in sacks and plastic bags were intercepted on water.
It added that wooden boats filled with stolen crude oil were intercepted at Abocha, Ahoada, Egi 3, and Bile in Rivers State.
NNPCL said in total, 11 suspects were arrested. Their efforts to undermine the nation’s economy and environment thwarted.
In its vow to sustain the onslaught on the criminals, the oil firms, said, “For NNPC limited, there is no backing down on the war on crude oil theft until the menace is eradicated for good.”
The Nation
