Chineme Okafor in Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that vandalism of its downstream pipelines within the last one year across the country has drastically reduced from 204 vandalised points it recorded in November 2015, to 43 points in November 2016.
The corporation specifically said in the November 2016 edition of its monthly financial and operations report released last week, that between the months of October and November 2016, it recorded a 78.92 per cent reduction in vandalism of its downstream pipeline, adding that it reduced from 101 to 43.
It attributed the reduction to its combined efforts with the federal government to engage and educate stakeholders across the country on the economic importance of protecting its pipelines.
“Pipeline sabotage in the country continues to reduce due to Federal Government and NNPC sustained engagements with the stakeholders. Only 43 downstream pipeline vandalised points were recorded in the month as against 101 in October 2016. This also represents 78.92 per cent reduction relative to November, 2015 (i.e. 204 vandalised points),” said the corporation in the report.
It however could not lay similar claims for assets’ vandalism in the upstream sector of the country’s oil industry. According to it, the certain flow stations in the Niger Delta were impacted by acts of vandalism which was seen more in the reduction of gas flow to power stations within the month under consideration.
Notwithstanding, the NNPC attributed Nigeria’s increased crude oil production in November to the lifting of force majeure at the Qua Iboe oil terminal on October 11 and ramping up of production from October 17, 2016.
It stated: “In October, 2016, crude oil production in Nigeria inched up to 1.78mb/d which represents 7.84 per cent increase relative to September, 2016 production but still 20 per cent lower than October, 2015 performance.
“The increase in production is credited to lifting of force majeure at Qua Iboe terminal on 11th October and ramping up of production from 17th October, 2016. However, some of the major drag to our performance includes the subsisting force majeure at Forcados terminal and Brass terminal, and shutdown of two NCTL (Nembe Creek Trunk Line) flow stations following pipeline leakages. Cumulative production capacity deferred due to shut in amounted to about 775kb/d,” the report added.
It said on gas production as well as delivery to the power sector: “National gas production for the month stood at 229BCF or 7,629.90mmscfd. This represents 7.73 per cent increase from the 7,082.50mmscfd recorded in October, 2016.
“Natural gas supply to gas power plants slowed down to 528mmscfd or equivalent to power generation of 2,344MW in November, 2016. This supply is also lower than the corresponding supply recorded in November, 2015 of 3,102MW,” said the report.
