From Our Correspondent
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) says it has discovered about 4,800 illegal connections on its oil pipelines across the country.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, announced the detection during an interaction with members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
TheNewsZenith gathered that the interaction focused on the workability of 1.78 million oil production per day and the $77.96 oil price benchmark for the 2024 budget.
Kyari said the oil component of the budgetary projections was realistic and realisable. This is despite the current production of 1.5 million barrels/day of oil.
“As at today, we discovered close to 4,800 illegal connections on the over 5,000 oil pipelines across the country.
“The illegal connections on pipelines in Niger Delta is so rampant.
“Within 100 kilometres of the affected pipelines, oil thieves made 300 insertions on them.
These eventually made the pipes to become weak. And they are unable to hold the pressure of oil pumped, let alone, delivering it to the targeted destination.
“Additionally, it is abnormal to engage non-state actors to protect critical assets like oil pipelines.
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“We have, however, responded abnormally and are getting results.
Unlike in July 2022 when we produced less than 1.2 million barrels/day, we are now producing 1.5 million barrels/day.
We have been achieving this in the last two to three months,” the NNPCL boss said.
According to him, the projections and parameters set in the proposed budget are realisable.
He added that 1.78 million barrels/day of oil production was projected for the 2024 budget. This includes condensate of between 200,000 and 300,000 barrels/day.
The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Solomon Adeola, commended Kyari for strengthening the company’s convictions on the workability of the projections.
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