The management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said on
Monday that an average
of 37,000 barrels of crude oil was stolen daily
from its Joint Venture (SPDC JV) facilities in the Niger Delta.
In a presentation at a seminar with the theme: “Effects of Pipeline
Vandalism, Crude Oil Theft and Encroachment Issues,” organised by the
company in Yenagoa for journalists in the region, SPDC’s Head, Right of
Way (RoW) Management, Afohron Sekobe, highlighted oil theft, equipment
failure, sabotage, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining as the main
sources of pollution in the region.
He said findings showed that the criminal breach of oil facilities was the cause of over 75 per cent of spill incidents from SPDC JV pipelines in 2014 alone.
Giving graphic details of the operating mode of the oil thieves, Sekobe also noted that over 92 per cent of oil volume spilled form SPDC JV facilities between 2010 and 2014 was caused by oil theft.
He said illegal interference with pipelines and other illegal activities such as theft of wellhead equipment occasioned the deferment of additional 110,000 barrels of oil per day.
He, however, noted that the company had recorded more sabotage and vandalism than oil theft, stressing that the illegalities were all violations of the Oil Pipelines Act, 1990, especially Chapter 338, Part 3, Section 12 and Subsections 1 and 2 of the law.
“In spite of actions taken and additional deployments of government security forces, there remained significant sabotage/illegal bunkering activities on the TNP,” Sekobe lamented.
He deplored the occupation of the right of way of SPDC JV facilities, adding that those who trespass carry out all kinds of activities such as building, excavation and mechanic workshops, among others, warning that the current number and levels of incursions on the pipelines would no longer be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has said that the contracts to clean spills in the Niger Delta region awarded by International Oil Companies to leaders of oil producing communities were phoney.
National Co-ordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, decried the situation where some community leaders accept phoney contracts from oil companies to cleanup spills without following due process.
He blamed the community leaders for putting pecuniary gains before the wellbeing of their environment, despite the devastating effects of spills on the environment, urging them to always ensure that the process for the award of such contracts are followed through and just as they must collaborate with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to guarantee clean-up.
He said findings showed that the criminal breach of oil facilities was the cause of over 75 per cent of spill incidents from SPDC JV pipelines in 2014 alone.
Giving graphic details of the operating mode of the oil thieves, Sekobe also noted that over 92 per cent of oil volume spilled form SPDC JV facilities between 2010 and 2014 was caused by oil theft.
He said illegal interference with pipelines and other illegal activities such as theft of wellhead equipment occasioned the deferment of additional 110,000 barrels of oil per day.
He, however, noted that the company had recorded more sabotage and vandalism than oil theft, stressing that the illegalities were all violations of the Oil Pipelines Act, 1990, especially Chapter 338, Part 3, Section 12 and Subsections 1 and 2 of the law.
“In spite of actions taken and additional deployments of government security forces, there remained significant sabotage/illegal bunkering activities on the TNP,” Sekobe lamented.
He deplored the occupation of the right of way of SPDC JV facilities, adding that those who trespass carry out all kinds of activities such as building, excavation and mechanic workshops, among others, warning that the current number and levels of incursions on the pipelines would no longer be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has said that the contracts to clean spills in the Niger Delta region awarded by International Oil Companies to leaders of oil producing communities were phoney.
National Co-ordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, decried the situation where some community leaders accept phoney contracts from oil companies to cleanup spills without following due process.
He blamed the community leaders for putting pecuniary gains before the wellbeing of their environment, despite the devastating effects of spills on the environment, urging them to always ensure that the process for the award of such contracts are followed through and just as they must collaborate with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to guarantee clean-up.
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