NNPC GCEO reverses self, says 4km illegal hose linked to Trans-Escravos not Forcados export pipeline
Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer(GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) has revealed that the 4 km illegal undersea hose, that has been used to siphon crude oil by suspected thieves, was linked to Trans Escravos pipeline and not Trans Forcados export pipeline.
The NNPCL GCEO made this known in a statement stating the obvious, when he visited the illegal connection point together with Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, and other key stakeholders at the weekend.
Kyari said, “We visited the illegal connection point on the Trans Escravos Pipeline looped onto the 4km Afremo test line. Inspected the Afremo platform, the potential exit point for diverted crude oil. Coordinated security intervention is paying up. Theft will be ended.
He further explained that the theft point ran from the Trans Escravos pipeline, which can feed the Forcados export terminal. The team also inspected the Afremo platform, which was potentially the exit point for the diverted crude, without giving details.
Kyari said the discovery of the theft line showed Nigeria’s coordinated intervention was paying off.
Meanwhile, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), operator of trans -Forcados crude export pipeline, had following the disclosure said the connection was not on its pipeline.
“SPDC appreciates the additional surveillance conducted on behalf of NNPC to deal with illegal activities,”
“However, the recently discovered theft pipeline is approximately 30km away from SPDC’s Forcados terminal. It is not within SPDC’s pipeline right of way.”
