Battle Against Crude Oil Theft: Pipeline Infrastructure, begins Operation-No-Smoke!

In a bid to end crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, so as to upscale Nigeria’s crude oil production, foremost indigenous oil and gas facility security company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, last month, began what it described as Operation-No-Smoke, destroying and evacuating illegal refineries across Bayelsa State.

The clampdown on the crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals, being carried out by Operatives of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with the Nigeria Navy from NSS Soroh as well as personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has so far led to the discovery of 9 illegal refineries, with over 1m/litres production capacity uncovered in Bayelsa State.

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL was contracted by the NNPC/Shell Petroleum Development Company, JV, to protect and secure the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP. The company, subsequently contracted Focus Guards Security Limited (A Licensed Security Organization) as a Second Layer Contractor cum Consultant, to secure and protect the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP from any infraction on the line.

Aside protection and security, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, also mandated Focus Guards Security Limited, to rid the pipeline right-of-way of all illegal refining sites, destroy such illegal camps and evacuate the sites.

The Coordinator of Operations, Pipeline Infrastructure, Ikurite B. David, who is leading the onslaught against the vandals, disclosed that no fewer than nine illegal refinery sites, with a combined total daily production estimated to be more than one million litres, were uncovered in three communities across Bayelsa State.

According to Ikurite David, the discovery of the sites, aimed at eradicating the region of illegal oil bunkering activities, was carried out by operatives of Pipeline Infrastructure, including community guards of the company.

He explained that the illegal refineries commonly called kpofire in local parlance, were uncovered in Okordia/Zarama/Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area and the boundary communities of Ibelebiri and Otuasega (Agba) in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

David, noted: “One of the busted illegal refining sites, was located 8 kilometres inside the swamp forest of Zarama Clan.  The discovery, was based on local intelligence and routine operations from officials of our company. We were able to uncover sites with about 15 ovens (tanks) with a capacity of 450,000 litres daily production in Okordia/Zarama/Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

“We had difficulty accessing the sites, because they were tucked away about eight kilometres across the Taylor Creek in the swamp forest. Our community guards, trekked for more than three hours, before they got to the locations. We also discovered that the operators were tapping (sourcing) their production from Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, pipelines in the area.

A cross section of operatives, before the ongoing onslaught

“We also visited sites in Ibelebiri and Agba communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where we uncovered many tanks being constructed by illegal refineries’ operators with production capacity of more than 500,000 litres per day. One of the standouts of that operation, was the visible environmental impact. We saw a two-hectare of land totally destroyed by activities of artisanal crude oil refining.

“Pipeline Infrastructure, will continue to uncover more and fetch them out from the roots. Our mandate is to protect the environment and oil facilities to boost oil production and the Nigerian economy, that is the task given to us and we will continue to collaborate and sensitize the communities and work with the leaders of the community.”

×