The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has promised that
the average daily production of crude oil will rise to about 2.5 million
barrels per day (mbpd) in two weeks, following repairs on the Nembe
Creek Trunk Line (NCTL).
Independent sources in the oil industry, however said the country was
only producing 1.9mbpd, based on accruable revenue, and when an extra
140,000bpd is added from the NCTL, total output would stand at 2.04mbpd.
The difference between NNPC’s figures and those of independent
sources has been blamed on incessant crude oil theft and pipeline
vandalism, which is costing Nigeria an estimated 400,000bpd.
NNPC stated Tuesday that the expected completion of repair works on
the NCTL, which has a daily capacity of 150,000bpd, would increase daily
average crude oil production to 2.50mbpd, thus exceeding the target of
2.48mbpd.
Efforts exerted by the federal government through the Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to stem the tide of
oil theft and pipeline vandalism were yielding positive results,
according to the corporation.
In a statement from its acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs
Division in Abuja, Ms. Tumini Green, the NNPC noted that the combined
efforts of Alison-Madueke, NNPC and IOCs to stem the crude theft menace
have resulted in a significant drop in the level of pipeline vandalism
and crude oil theft, thus resulting in a corresponding increase in crude
oil production.
“Suffice it to say some vandalised pipelines and flow stations have
been repaired and reopened such that average current national daily
production stands at 2.4mbpd compared to the average year to date figure
of 2.13mbpd as at June 2013.”
Attributing its current success to the directive by Alison-Madueke to
NNPC to constitute an industry-wide committee on security strategy
against crude oil and product theft, Tumini said the committee’s members
included representatives from NNPC, all the IOCs, Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company (NPDC), security agencies, as well as the Oil
Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (LCCI).
“In a fortnight, repair works on the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL),
which has a daily capacity of 150,000bpd, is expected to be fully
completed.
“On completion, daily average crude oil production is expected to
increase to 2.50mbpd which will exceed the national daily target of
2.48mbpd,” Green said.
She noted that the corporation was determined to sustain the security
measures initiated by the security agents against crude oil theft and
pipeline vandalism.
“Our expectation is to increase production from the 2.48 to 2.55mbpd (both crude oil and condensates) for the rest of the year.
“We have the capacity and potential to maintain production above
2.55mbpd in the country. All that is required is to continue the fight
against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft to achieve this target.
“This will increase our 2013 average production to about 2.34mbpd if
the current fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft is
sustained,” the NNPC spokesperson added.
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