It has been revealed that about 90 percent of diesel sold in filling stations in Nigeria are produced by local refineries operating illegally in different communities of the Nigeria Delta.
This disclosure was made by the Executive Director, Operations & Technical, Tantita Security Services (TSS) Ltd, Capt. Warredi Enisuo.
Tantita is owned by the Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, who is known as Tompolo. His company was contracted to check illegal crude oil theft some years ago.
According to Enisuo who spoke on the occasion of the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) summit held in Abuja recently, most of the diesel sold in filling stations in Nigeria is refined by local communities in the Niger Delta.
Enisuo in a news report published by Thisday Newspaper, said almost all the oil companies patronise those who illegally refine crude oil.
Speaking on the theme “ Exploring Nigeria’s Content Solutions to Meet Energy Demand”, he however said the reason cheap, illegal diesel was no longer available was as a result of the hard work that his company, Tantita, has done to stop oil theft in the Niger Delta, adding that oil communities must no longer be ignored.
He said, “Why is there no scarcity of diesel (right now)? There is scarcity of PMS (petrol). The story is simple. Most of the diesel you buy is brewed (refined) by the communities.
“Don’t let any fuel station deceive you, 90 per cent of the diesel in fuel stations are produced by the communities. It will also interest you to know that even the oil companies, they patronise the local diesel refineries. Don’t let anybody deceive you.
“But they do it illegally and behind the doors. So, as we go with the local content, the board has a lot to do with people with this skill and character. I’m not too sure how much your act has done to establish infrastructure, but to be honest with you, we might need to focus more on the communities.
“The reason why the price of diesel is high today is because of the work of the private security companies like my company, because we have been able to somehow cut down on a lot of the business, a lot of the illegal refining going on. That is why you see the cost of diesel going up.
“Let the communities take on the responsibility of ownership, a sense of belonging. This is why we are making progress. If you give them that sense of responsibility, you should not forget what happened in Niger Delta. But if you put them somewhere where you feel you can outsmart them…these guys will out-greed you.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has discovered a total of 122 illegal oil refining sites in the past week across the Niger Delta region.
The NNPCL said a filling station was sealed for selling illegally refined fuel to motorist in Akwa Ibom State.
According to a documentary released by the NNPCL on Tuesday, 65 illegal pipeline connections were uncovered and removed within the past week in Rivers and other states in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
“310 incidents were recorded between May 18 and 24 across the Niger Delta region,” the NNPCL disclosed while reeling out its efforts in fighting oil theft and vandalism.
Our correspondent gathered that the filling station selling illegally refined fuel was uncovered at Grey Creek in Akwa Ibom State.
The 122 illegal refineries were spotted at Tomble II, III, IV, Umuajuloke, Rivers State as well as Oporomor III, Eduwini, and Ajatiton in Bayelsa State.
Vandalised well heads were reportedly discovered in Tomble IV, Rivers and Egbema in Imo State.
Five illegal storage sites were sighted with oil stored in sacks, pits, cans and a filling station, the energy company stated.
Twenty vehicles, including a tanker, were seized in Delta and Imo states, while 29 boats transporting crude oil or illegally refined products were confiscated across several creeks in Bayelsa and Delta states.
It was said that 33 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents.
Recently, The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, emphasised the need to fight insecurity in the oil and gas sector to increase production.
