– Destroys 5,686 illegal refineries
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, says the establishment of its command-and-control centre has aided the detection and removal of 4,480 illegal tapping points, destruction of 5,686 illegal refinery sites, and addressed vandalism across its operating corridors since 2021.
Kyari who decried the challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, observed that the menace has impacted NNPC Ltd.’s operations, and noted that the centre has enhanced crude oil production since its creation in 2021.
The NNPCL boss disclosed these while giving a lecture on the topic, “Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria: Advances, Challenges and Opportunities,” at the 2024 Science Faculty Lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Wednesday.
Acknowledging the severity of vandalism and oil theft, Kyari hinted at a strategic shift, focusing on increased product trucking and storage in underground tankages at NNPC filling stations nationwide.
He highlighted NNPC Ltd.’s expanded retail assets, making it the largest single downstream company in sub-Saharan Africa after acquiring OVH retail stations and associated downstream infrastructure in 2021.
He said, “The centre provides live streaming of surveillance data to security forces, contributing to the detection and destruction of over 5,686 Illegal Refinery sites and the removal of 4,480 Illegal Connections from 2021 to the present.”
Kyari in his lecture also advocated for collaboration between the academia and the oil industry towards addressing the challenges of energy sufficiency and sustainability.
He highlighted the important role academic communities, such as OAU, play in safeguarding national energy security through research and collaboration with the industry, noting that the challenges hindering energy security in Nigeria including population growth, crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Kyari identified energy conservation, diversification, and efficiency measures as major avenues for enhancing energy security; and harped on the importance of finding solutions to ensure sustainable energy security for the benefit of current and future generations.
He underscored the intensified competition for vital resources and the urbanization drive, which would lead to a doubling of Nigeria’s energy demand by 2050.
While acknowledging NNPC Ltd.’s transformation into a fully commercial limited liability energy company following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, Kyari said the removal of fuel subsidies has allowed the company to play a more active commercial role, ensuring profitability and delivering greater value to Nigeria.
