Shell decries over N2m daily oil loss, Navy, EFCC partner to tackle bunkering, others

Dutch oil major, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has deplored a 10,000 barrels daily oil theft on its pipelines.

It’s General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, said the economic sabotage amounts to over N2.2 million every 24 hours.

He said the loss translates to government’s 55 per cent revenue going down the drain, adding that the oil firm’s production accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange.

Addressing a workshop on pipelines’ right of way, encroachment and vandalism yesterday in Port Harcourt, the image-maker said hurting the assets means harming the nation’s revenue, states’ economies and the health of the people and the environment.

“Crude oil theft on the pipeline network resulted in a loss of around 11,000 barrels of oil in 2018, which were more than the projected 9, 000 barrels per day in 2017,” he clarified.

We appealed to government, communities and other stakeholders to stem vandalism of oil assets in the Niger Delta region.

He said the oil major had since 2012 identified more than 1,160 illegal theft points in the region.

The spokesman noted that Shell was concerned about the lives and safety of those involved in the deadly act, even as the company was equally worried about the environment.

He described oil theft and artisanal refining of stolen crude as criminal acts “that are not only against the law but also capable of mortgaging the future of the community.”

On her part, the company’s General Manager, Safety and Environment, Chidube Nnene-Anochie, said illegal refining and third party interference were main sources of pollution in the oil-rich area.

“In 2018 alone, third party interference caused close to 90 per cent of the number of spills of more than 100 kilogrammes from SPDC JV pipelines,” she stated.

Represented by the Compliance Monitoring Lead, Temitope Ajibade, Nnene-Anochie stressed that no spill was acceptable to the company.

In a related development, the Nigerian Navy has assured the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of support to tackle illegal oil deals and maritime-related offences.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral O.B. Daji, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the Lagos zonal headquarter of the commission where he was received by the head, Mohammed Rabo, in Ikoyi.