The Federal Government (FG) has stated that it will carry out measures against oil theft in the country, one of which includes transporting crude oil via trucks, News About Nigeria reports.
This was contained in a new presentation by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, on “Stability in the Nigerian Energy Sector: Integrated Strategies for Infrastructure, Transportation, and Security, issued in Abuja on Sunday.
NUPRC noted that this virtual means of evacuation of crude oil involves the utilisation of barges and trucks for the transportation of crude from the point of production to injection/storage points for eventual transportation to export terminals.
The organisation further noted that these evacuation systems were implemented to avoid production deferment, losses, and other undesirable consequences as a result of pipeline disruptions and outages.
Recall that in 2023, the Senate ordered a comprehensive probe into the activities of security forces and organised groups employing sophisticated techniques to steal crude oil in the country.
According to reports, this decision was prompted by a motion put forth by Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta North), who reeled out data on what Nigeria loses to pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering.
NUPRC, however, noted that the government will ensure that oil theft is stopped, adding that through collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Petroleum Regulatory Commission has sustained its commitment to implementing targeted initiatives and various measures to combat vandalism and crude oil theft.
“The activities of the syndicates have led to revenue losses for the government, oil companies, and other stakeholders, increased costs of production, as well as far-reaching environmental consequences and demarketing of the nation’s global competitiveness.
“The commission has therefore promoted the implementation of alternative crude oil evacuation systems to avoid production deferment, losses, and other undesirable consequences as a result of pipeline disruptions and outages.
“This virtual means of evacuation mainly involves the utilisation of barges and trucks for the transportation of crude oil from the point of production to injection/storage points for eventual transportation to export terminals,” the document reads in part.
