A National Oil Reserve Company is floated to ensure energy security for Nigeria, the GCEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd), Malam Mele Kyari has disclosed.
According to him, every country has reserve oil company and Nigeria cannot be different.
“The National Reserve Company will be built on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement and every country has a reserve company. There is a holding cost and the government must be ready to pay for that.
“Usually the military runs it but we will run it. We will bring back the pipelines so that the reserve can supply the products at different locations across the country,’’ Kyari told the 49th State House media briefing at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
On crude oil theft, he said the company had not given up as the Presidential intervention involving the Chief of Defence Staff, Navy and other security agencies is recording a huge success in the anti-crude oil theft.
Kyari sad the war against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta has resulted in the recovery of 22 million litres of stolen crude.
Similarly, about 22 million litres of Diesel, 0.15 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and 0.76 million litres of kerosene have also been recovered from criminals.
He also disclosed that about 122 suspects have been arrested in connection with the oil thefts while 11 vessels, 30 speed boats, 179 wooden boats, 37 trucks and cars have been seized and destroyed.
Other items recovered are 959 metal tanks, 739 ovens, 452 dugout pits, 342 reservoirs and 355 cooking pots have been destroyed.
In addition, the NNPC GCEO said 207 pumping machines, 12 welding machines, six power generators, and two drilling machines were recovered from crude oil thieves.
“We cannot totally stop crude oil theft but technology will help us to bring it to zero level.
“Massive deterance operations against identified oil thefts are ongoing and l can tell you we are making huge success. We thank the security agencies, the NAVY and other stakeholders for the fight,” Persecondnews quotes Kyari as saying.
On when the stoppage of importation of petroleum products will be achieved by the country, the GCEO explained with the consumption level of Nigerians as a result of growth in population and demands for the products importation will still continue even if the three refineries are fully operational.
He said:“The three refineries if they are working can only supply18 million litres of petrol supply per day which cannot meet the national supply needs. There will still be deficit or shortage.
“The population has grown exponentially with millions of vehicles thereby putting pressure on demand for the products; so it will not stop importation.
“But with the Dangote Refinery coming on stream mid-2023 in which NNPC has 20 per cent equity, it will produce at least 50 million litres of PMS per day as it has capacity to process 650 barrels of crude oil.
“I can assure you that it will stop importation and Nigeria will be a net exporter of the products to Africa and the world.’’
Answering reporters’ questions, Kyari disclosed that about 700, 000 barrels of crude oil per day were being lost to oil thieves.
To this end, NNPC has launched an App in addition to the onslaught by security agencies for Nigerians to report all incidences of crude oil theft, adding that such alarm will not go unrewarded.
Persecondnews recalls that four months ago, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabo, and the NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari, visited the Niger Delta for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage done by vandals.
In July, Kyari, the European Union Delegation, top officials of the NNPC Ltd as well as representatives of security agencies again visited the Niger Delta Creeks to assess the ongoing fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and vandalism of oil and gas installations.
On the end-to-end security strategy of the NNPC, Kyari clarified that government agencies, deployment of technology, communities and contractors have been engaged to man NNPC right of way (the pipelines).
On the reported pipeline surveillance contract given to Tompolo, he explained that the NNPC did not give contract to Chief Government Tompolo, the ex-militant leader, but to a company after the various companies went through the due process of bidding.
“We looked for those who can do the job and it was given to them. We did not give such contracts to individuals but companies. Tompolo may have interest in the company.’’
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