The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has disclosed that another 63 illegal refineries were discovered and confiscated in the past week.
It was revealed in a documentary that the fight against oil theft was yielding results.
The NNPC reports that between August 3 and August 9, approximately 177 incidents were reported by various incident sources, including four from Tantita Security Services, eleven from Shell Petroleum Development Company, 26 from Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, 20 from Maton Engineering Company, one from NNPC 18 Operating Ltd, 51 from NNPC Command and Control Center, and 64 from government security agencies.
It stated that during the week in question, 19 illicit pipeline connections were located and confiscated, and some of them underwent repairs in a number of Bayelsa and River States areas.
According to the NNPC, 63 illicit refineries in the states of Delta, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Abia were found and confiscated.
It further stated that an oil wellhead in Bayelsa State had been found to be vandalized and obstructed.
It has been reported that oil reservoirs in Rivers State contained stolen crude.
According to the state-owned firm, 17 vehicular arrests were made in communities in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.
It mentioned that 15 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were confiscated in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
The energy company disclosed that 51 of those incidents took place in the deep blue water, 21 in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region.
The NNPC stated that no fewer than 16 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incidents in the past week.
Crude oil theft has remained a major challenge in the upstream sector, inhibiting the country’s ability to ramp up production.
