NIGERIA LOSES $1.6BN TO CRUDE OIL THEFT ANNUALLY – SHELL

 

Shell Petroleum Development Company, has expressed concern over the activities of crude oil thieves and illegal refineries operators in the Niger Delta, saying that the country was losing $1.6bn annually to oil theft.
The company cited its forced shut down of the Nembe Creek Trunk lines, NCTL, in Bayelsa State, a facility which produces about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day and its declaration of force majeure on Bonny Light export.
This, according to the company, was to enable it remove crude oil theft connections, investigate suspected oil theft leaks and effect repairs.

Speaking at a workshop organised for media practitioners in Yenagoa, Shell Manager, Government/Community Relations, Evans Krukrubo,  said over 90 per cent of its pipelines in the region had been ruptured by suspected oil thieves.
He noted that the shut down of NCTL production would impact negatively on Bayelsa’s share from the Federation Account.
Represented by Funkakpo Fufyin, the company said the recent upsurge in illegal refining business in the Niger Delta should be a major concern to all stakeholders.
He said: “We are not worried by the money lost by Shell, but the harm and destruction unleashed on the environment.” He blamed most of the spills in the region on crude oil thieves and illegal refinery operators, when compared to operational failures.
He  cited Bodo, in Rivers State, Imo River, NCTL and offshore of the Niger Delta as areas  identified as major hotspots for oil bunkering and sabotage.
Krukrubo called on security agencies and state government to assist the firm in curbing the activities of oil thieves and illegal refinery operators.

ACCIDENT: GOVERNOR OKOROCHA LEAVES UK FOR ISRAEL

 

Governor Rochas Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has left London where he was receiving medical treatment for Israel, it was learnt on Saturday.

Okorocha had left Nigeria on April 20, 2013, after he sustained a head injury in a car accident.

When our correspondent made an enquiry from one of his aides on Friday it was learnt that Okorocha had left London for Israel.

Okorocha’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, confirmed that the governor had left London. “He has left London and he is doing very well. He is currently in Israel,” he said.

Another top government official, who pleaded anonymity said that the governor was in Israel for a second round of examination.

Uzoukwa, however, denied that the governor moved to Israel on health grounds.

“He only went to Israel to attend to certain matters and will be back soon,” he said.

Okorocha was involved in a car crash on Orlu-Owerri Road in the state on April 19.

The accident occurred when a Mercedes Benz 200 ran into the governor’s convoy and had a collision with his own car.

Okorocha was on an inspection tour of projects in Orlu area when the crash occurred.

“The accident led to a minor cut on the governor’s scalp,” Uzoukwa had said.

He said Okorocha’s head was bandaged, but noted that he was stable and strong.

Okorocha had said he would seek further medical attention due to the level of impact of the accident on him.

“Although the accident left me with a cut and some minor injuries, I am fine. I will, however, seek further medical attention because of the degree of impact made by the crash,” the governor was quoted as saying after the crash.

SUNDAY PUNCH