The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has achieved a significant milestone in its crusade against oil theft, discovering 58 illegal refineries and 19 unauthorized pipeline connections in the Niger Delta region.
This discovery was made in a series of operations that took place between January 18 and 24, 2025, and led to the arrest of 25 suspects and the discovery of various illegal oil installations.
According to a video documentary on the official YouTube channel of the NNPCL, the company recorded a total of 159 incidents of oil theft in the region.
“An industry-wide security collaboration to safeguard hydrocarbon infrastructure continues to yield remarkable results,” the broadcast noted.
The operations were carried out in collaboration with various companies and stakeholders, including NMPC Ltd’s Command and Control Centre, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, and the Government Security Agencies.
The NNPCL also reported several instances of vandalism of crude oil pipelines and illegal connections to condensate pipelines in Bayelsa State, as well as breaches in Edo State, Abia State, and River State.
However, the company noted that all illegal connections had been removed and repairs had been successfully carried out.
Illegal refineries were reportedly discovered in several locations in River State, including Bile, Boni, and Okoloma.
The discovery comes a week after the NNPCL announced the discovery of 55 illegal refineries and 29 illegal pipeline connections.
The company emphasized that the fight against crude oil theft will continue, adding that its resolve against the menace remains unshaken.
With Nigeria recording over 589 oil spills in 2024, mostly caused by oil theft, the NNPCL’s efforts to combat this menace are crucial to the country’s oil and gas industry.
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